Personal Narrative: A Career In My Knee Surgery

A cold sweat began to bead at the base of my neck as I urged the muscles in my knee to work their way through the set of squats my physical therapist had asked me to perform. My appointment was scheduled at seven in the morning, but already I could feel the adrenaline rushing up and down my spine as I watched the sun rise over the waking city through the large paneled windows of the gym. Sharp pain shot up the inside of my right knee as I slowly lowered myself, making it difficult to continue the squats. As I pushed the muscles in my knee to lower myself further, I gazed intently at the wall in front of me for inspiration. A quote I had learned to cherish over time as my personal mantra adorned the wall, reading, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." With these powerful words lodged into the back of my mind, I dropped my body into an even lower squat and continued to complete the set with strong determination to get back to soccer, the sport
I am only a mere seventeen years old and although there are numerous past challenges which continue to surface as obstacles to this day, such as my knee surgery, there is a whole world of adulthood which I am entirely oblivious to that will undoubtedly provide me with issues as well. Being a teenager is difficult; I have the responsibilities of applying for colleges, finishing my schoolwork, slowly prying myself from beneath my parents' wing, and challenging medical obstacles. Because physical therapy (the community and the quote) has inspired me in immeasurable ways, I have learned to focus on my potential and my capabilities rather than my weaknesses in not only soccer, but also my schoolwork, music, and all other aspects of my