Personal Narrative: My Life As A Soccer Player

With two minutes left on the clock, the game ended a bit earlier for me than it did for the rest of my team. It was March 2014, and I had broken my arm and shattered my elbow playing soccer. As the game ended, it was difficult to act excited that my team won in the midst of my agonizing pain and discomfort. When I learned that I required surgery and would be sidelined for six months, I asked myself two questions. Why did this happen to me? Secondly, how was I going to handle this difficult situation and remain positive? As the physical pain began to fade after surgery, the emotional pain appeared ten times stronger. I needed to find a way to cope. Despite being unable to play, I chose to stay involved with my team and attend all games and practices. It was difficult, but I decided to go and watch my team playing the sport I loved to play. Teammates and their parents would often ask, “Matthew, when can you finally play again?” Each time I would give the same hopeful response, “Soon enough.” By the end of

During the time I couldn’t participate with my team, I realized not only how much of an impact soccer had on my childhood, but also how important my family and friends are to me. Throughout my recovery, I had the constant support of my family, teammates, and friends. I would never have been able to keep my sense of humor, stay positive, and recover as quickly as I did if not for their support. This taught me that no matter what difficulties a person may be facing, there may be an opportunity to provide support and make a positive difference in their life. In addition, my injury taught me how to work through adversity. Before my injury, I had never faced a setback in my life that prevented me from something that I really cared about. During my rehab I learned how to persevere through the tough days when it seemed like I would never fully