My life so far has been a rollercoaster, specifically the last five or six years of my life. When I was younger, I wanted to be a professional soccer player. Although I wasn't the most athletic kid on the soccer field, it didn't stop me from striving to become a professional. In 2016, I learned I had a back injury that caused severe pain. Doctors couldn't identify the cause until I was a freshman in high school. I was diagnosed with a bulging/herniated disc in my lower back. I felt heartbroken because I thought my dream of playing soccer was over. Not only did the thought of not playing soccer go through my mind, but not doing any physical activity. I tried multiple treatments including, medications, physical therapy, and chiropractors, but none fully solved my pain. I had seen different doctors who tried everything they could before they considered surgery. I got back surgery right before my senior year of high school started. The recovery was hard to face as I was in more pain than before the surgery. I was scared because I thought I wouldn't be in pain anymore. I didn't understand why I was in more pain than before. I have severe anxiety, and I got stressed that the surgery didn't work. I may not be a professional athlete, but it didn't mean I would have to give up a career in athletics. I've learned to enjoy different aspects of sports that intrigue me into pursuing it as a career. Upon reflecting on this time in my life, I've realized that everything happens for a reason.

In my school, we have a club that is called Best Buddies. It is sponsored by Special Olympics Pennsylvania. I have been a club officer since my freshman year of high school. There are many instances at my school where I see members of Best Buddies getting made fun of because they are "different" than us, but they are no different from anyone. Whenever I see someone I know getting picked on, it hits close to home as I have a brother with a disability and I myself have a disability. Although my disability is not as prominent as some of my friends who are in the club are, I find it my goal to make sure they are included in all activities. Our girls' varsity soccer team invites members of the Best Buddies club to be ball girls and ball boys for our varsity games as well as letting them in at team huddles and running on the field for the starting lineups. Senior members of Best Buddies also get recognized at our Senior Night soccer celebration. We also have unified sports teams at our school that anyone can join. We have a pledge at my school that is that we choose to include. Some may think members like myself don't interact with other members outside of events, but I make it a goal to say hi to as many members in the hallways as possible because you don't know what they might be going through. To see the smiles on their faces makes my day as much as I have made their day. I choose to include everyone no matter their skin color, disability, or age because everyone deserves to be loved by one another and treated lovingly.