When I tore my ACL during my freshman year of college, my first thoughts were not about the lessons I would have learned from it. All I wanted to know was when I could run again, when I could be cleared, and when everything would go back to how it was. But what I didn't understand was that the comeback wasn't just stepping on the field, but it was all the lessons and progress leading up to it.
It's built slowly through physical therapy, the small victories, and all the times I just wanted to stop or take a break but kept going when no one was watching.
Reflecting on it now, my ACL taught me many valuable lessons,not just physically, but mentally. I couldn't imagine myself and my character without it.
One of the scariest parts of the injury was the unknown
I wanted answers and how everything would end up. As athletes we are used to working towards goals. We make a plan, structure it how we want, work hard to achieve those goals and get results. But an injury is different. Yes, there are estimates on when you can achieve certain goals along the way but everybody's recovery is different and takes a different time.
You can't control how your body reacts, the time, how quickly you want your recovery to go, or any setback that comes your way.
That was one of the toughest pills I had to swallow.
However, after a while I realized that what I could control was how I showed up every day of that process. I could control my effort, attitude, and my mindset even when it was hard.
Celebrating the Small Victories
It's also important to celebrate the small things along the way. It's really easy to get wrapped up in the final goal and overlook the progress happening right in the moment. My goal was to get back to lacrosse, although I wasn't letting myself be proud of all the things I accomplished already.
Sometimes my victory that day would be unlocking my brace, bending my knee a little further than the day before, taking my first steps without my crutches, or jumping a little higher.
Victories looked different everyday. Throughout these victories, I learned to trust my body again and allow it to move how it once did.
These moments may not have looked like much to someone else, but they meant everything to me.
You don't have to wait until the finish line to be proud of yourself.
Showing Up When No One Is Watching
Success is built in the moments no one praises.
The long hours of physical therapy everyday, waking up and strapping your brace on, taking one step further than you did, and leaning on the people there that want to help you along the way.
I eventually learned that if you show up day after day, even if you're tired, upset, happy, angry, that teaches you discipline and gratitude unlike any other.
It teaches you to believe in yourself even when it doesn't feel like progress is happening.
Finding Gratitude in What Was Taken Away
As athletes, we spend a lot of the time chasing big moments that we often forget all of the little things that got us to where we are.
Before tearing my ACL, I had routines. practices, lifting, workouts, recovery. It all seemed normal, however, I think my injury taught me real gratitude for what I do everyday.
When it was taken away from me, I felt lost. I didn't realize how I took it for granted. It taught me to be grateful for any opportunity that came my way and to get back to being with my teammates again.
Realizing I Am More Than My Sport
Being away from the sport taught me that I am more than just a lacrosse player.
I mean let’s face it, it's hard not to make your sport your identity.
I honestly didn't think I did, but once it was gone, I realized that I tied my identity heavily to lacrosse.
Our schedules revolve around it, confidence can sometimes be connected to it, even self-worth from how we perform. It can be difficult to navigate your way through that when all those things go away for a little while.
My injury taught me that while being an athlete is a big part of who I am, it is not everything I am. Your injury doesn't change who you are as a person, if anything, it allows you to grow and learn lessons.
I was still me when I was injured and, dare I say, it helped shape who I am today.
What My ACL Injury Taught Me
My ACL injury not only made me physically stronger, but it also made me mentally stronger, which I never expected.
I learned to let go when I wanted to control everything, trusting what was coming even if it was scary not knowing.
I gained gratitude for the opportunities, discipline for showing up everyday.
I celebrated every victory, and remembered that my identity is not just my sport.
Growth can come from something you never would have chosen. I am so grateful for what the experience has taught me.
The comeback is built on the small steps taken forward that not everyone may see. It is built on the difficult days where you chose to keep showing up.
This is what I would want another athlete to remember. You may not see the finished line yet and you may not know the exact timeline you have or how long the journey will take and how frustrating it may get. But keep showing up.
Focus on what you can control, celebrate progress, and trust that the work you are doing now is moving you forward, even when it may not feel like it.
The comeback won't be just one moment, it will be the moments along the journey. The ones that nobody saw; the ones that nobody praised.
Those are the moments that teach us the most.
