I believe that with determination and perseverance all obstacles can be conquered.  During my junior year football season, my leg was shattered into eight pieces during a game.  I looked down and my leg was bent almost sixty degrees a few inches above my ankle.  I was rushed to the emergency room and operated on.  When I came out of the anesthesia and realized where I was, I looked down and there were six rods going into my leg held in place by two halos going around my leg.  It was called an external fixator, and for the next few months would be a part of me.

The following four months were the hardest months of my life.  Having to adjust to life without being able to walk and a fifteen pound contraption drilled into my tibia was already a load, not to mention still having to go to class.  I was also told by my doctors and coaches that it would be tough for me to be able to run again much less play sports.  I was determined to overcome this.  During these months I worked extremely hard in physical therapy, always pushing myself until my leg couldn’t handle anymore or until I was completely exhausted. 

Finally spring rolled around and I began workouts with the track team.  The external fixator was removed but my leg was still very week and a lot of the muscle had deteriorated.  Although my events were shot put and discus and required no running, it took a lot of leg strength to throw a shot put correctly.  I worked as hard as I could all season, getting better every day until the region meet came.  I ended up placing in both shot put and discus that year. 

The next step was being able to play football again.  I worked out every morning that summer before my senior year, hoping to be able to play again.  I did countless squats and power cleans, numerous sprints, and spent hours on the sled in the heat.  Finally the season rolled around and, not only was I able to play, but I started and had a great season with all my friends and teammates. It was a great feeling, because less than a year ago nobody even expected me to be able to run again without pain.  But by putting in a lot of hard work and persevering through a lot of pain and adversity, I was able to overcome this obstacle.