They can be quite cruel.
Injuries.
Always unexpected.
And without warning.
They can take away everything you’ve worked for in an instant.
And it can be devastating.
I’ve had my fair share of injuries as a soccer player. I’ll now be out for a third season in a row due to tearing my ACL twice and a few other injuries along the way.
To say I’ve been through a lot would be an understatement.
But they’ve taught me some valuable lessons and helped shape me into the person I am today.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that my life is not my own. I can’t put my trust in myself because it can be taken away in a second.
Injuries have a way of making you feel like everything is falling apart; like your entire world is crashing down around you.
But I’ve learned that the storm won’t last forever, and I’ll be able to cope with those things and grind through them.
And no matter what happens, I know I’ll be a better man and player from it.
That’s the most important part.
Embracing change
It’s funny how life works.
My parents almost 'forced' me to play soccer.
I didn’t want to do it at first.
I look back on that now and realize how different my life would be if my parents hadn’t pushed me when I was just a four-year-old.
Without soccer, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be a student-athlete here at Clemson.
I wouldn’t have had the chance to win a national championship.
And I wouldn’t have been able to share my story with others to hopefully inspire them to never give up.
Sometimes, change is good.
It’s hard to see it in the moment, but looking back, I can see how each change in my life led me to where I am today.
I wouldn’t be the player or person I am now if it weren’t for those changes.
And for that, I’m grateful.
Being a part of something bigger than myself and having the opportunity to play for a university with such a storied history and tradition was a dream come true.
But I also knew that hard work was necessary to accomplish my goals.
Nothing would be handed to me.
Injuries were part of the game, but I never expected them to be as severe as what I was about to experience.
Little did I know that college would bring me the biggest challenge of my life.
The one that hurt the most
My first year at Clemson was filled with excitement and optimism.
I was finally living out my dream of playing for the Tigers, and I couldn’t have been happier.
But in a split second, everything changed.
It was like one injury after another, and I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to get back on the field again.
In my first year, I broke my fifth metatarsal in my left foot. I was sidelined for three months, but I was able to play again in November.
Just when I thought I was back to my old self, I broke my fibula during a 1v1 drill.
I was out for the entire spring season.
I was in shock when I first heard about it.
I cried.
I was devastated.
I just wanted to play so badly and show what I could do. I was playing pretty well when it happened, so it was tough to be sidelined once again.
I found peace in rehabbing and trying to come back for the fall.
In the fall, I was playing well, and I finally got my chance during a game against Furman. I played really well and had a nice assist.
I thought things were finally turning around for me, but the very next day, I tore my ACL.
And that was the hardest one for me to overcome.
I was out for the entire season during the national championship run.
I was devastated once again. I couldn’t help but wonder why all of this was happening to me.
After a long fall and spring season full of rehab, I once again returned to the field.
I felt good, but the nightmare wasn’t over yet.
During my first day back, I tore my ACL again.
At this point, I felt like I was going crazy.
I had been out for a year and a half, and I just couldn’t catch a break.
But I learned to find peace and comfort in my family, my girlfriend, my brother, my teammates, and God.
I relied on them to help me get through the toughest time of my life, and they were there for me every step of the way.
If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I’d be.
Before this ACL injury, I sometimes pushed people away.
I was just a different person, struggling on my own to some degree, you know?!
But this time around, I knew that in order to get through this, I needed support.
And the people closest to me were providing just that.
It’s definitely something I learned throughout this process.
You can’t battle all of those challenges by yourself. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for a help. In fact, it’s important.
Injuries will always be a part of the game, but I learned to appreciate the game in a whole new way.
I learned to be present and not take anything for granted.
I learned to embrace the adversity and use it as fuel to push me forward.
And most importantly, I learned that my story was far from over.
It was only just beginning.
National Champions
This past season, my third year at Clemson, I had the opportunity to be a part of a national championship team.
Being a part of something like this with so many great and amazing players was an experience I’ll never forget.
I got to experience what true leadership looked like, and I learned so much from my teammates and coaches.
It was a tremendous honor.
And something I’m tremendously proud of.
But at the same time, it was hard for me to see my team do so well and not be able to contribute directly on the field.
I was in PT every day while my teammates were training, so sometimes, I felt a little distant from them.
In a way, it was a blessing in disguise because it taught me that the sport is not the only thing that defines me.
I am so much more than a soccer player, and there is so much more to life than just the game.
I made it a point to be present with my teammates and enjoy every moment with them, both on and off the field.
And while I may not have been able to play in the games, I was still able to contribute in other ways.
I cheered them on from the sidelines, and I made sure they knew that I was there for them no matter what.
In the end, I can still call myself a national champion, and that’s something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
Not done yet
One of the coolest things about this journey is that my story is not even close to being finished.
I have a few more years of eligibility left, and I can’t wait to get back on the field and show what I can do.
Once the storm ends, I know that I’ll become a better man and player from it.
And that’s the most important thing to me.
If all I do is help someone else get through their own challenges, then that’s a success to me.
I’ve already had people come up to me and say that my story has helped them get through their own struggles, and that’s the most rewarding part of this journey.
In the meantime, I’ll continue to trust in God’s plan.
