Life… I really don’t know where I can begin talking about
life. That is because life is just full of surprises, door openers, life
changing experiences, obstacles, and the list goes on and on. I’m barley 18 I
don’t have much room to talk about many “experiences.” Yet, I am allowed to
talk about what the most important lesson I have learned to be true about life
thus far.
This past
month, I stopped attending church and Lifeteen every Sunday. Doing so I felt as
if I’m bad “Christian” for not attending weekly or daily. Yet, throughout time
I came to realize that my night walks up to the football field is where my best
connection is with the man above and that although I may not always attend
church doesn’t mean I don’t have faith it simply means that I know he will
always be there until the end.
My life
lesson I learned throughout my existence thus far. Is that “I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me.” -
Philippians 4:13
Throughout
my life there has been some struggles. Struggles I made hard because at the
meantime I didn’t believe in a religion. My mom made me go to church when I was
younger but I actually didn’t have any faith. I gone through a divorce that I
made difficult. I have gone through seeing my 20-year-old cousin making mistakes
of having kids young. I seen my cousins get deported. I have seen my niece
fight for her life. I have lost close friends I wish I never did. Lastly,
breaking up with something you love after having unforgettable memories and
dreams come true.
When someone
asks me in high school “what defines you?” That was an easy reply, “I am a
student athlete or a basketball player.” Now, that the season is over I no
longer know what “defines me.”
A reason
why my breakup with this sport is so hard to get over is because it is where my
relationship with God grew in. December was one of the hardest parts of my life
in a season. I got sick… I went to the emergency room one night with Kylie by
my side. Yet, this was the turning point of an unforgettable dream coming true.
When people
see shooting stars at night. They take the timeout and make a wish of something
they want or dream. Well, shooting stars mean something different to me. When I
see a shooting star it represents that the man above is watching over me. That
he will be there by my side until the end. Coming back from the hospital my mom
spotted three shooting stars. I now came to understand it represented three
schools. Estrella, Alchesay, and Tuba City. The three schools we had to defeat
in order to make it to the final four.
The week
before Estrella I suffered an injury… My achilles was overused the week before
State. I could barley even walk, we YouTube healing videos to see if they would
work in time. I was rolling my achilles tendon over a pizza roller for a whole
week. Every step I took a shot of pain ran through! It wasn’t until the day
before 1st round state. I got a text message saying. “ I hope you
know how bad I feel for you, but I have to say that your chances of playing
tomorrow is really slim and won’t be playing much.” Usually, in situations like
these I would shut down and feel sorry for myself. Instead I replied “you worry
about the team, I’ll find a way to get back by tomorrow.” That night I went to
the football field to cry my heart out. Simply, because if we lost that would
have been my last high school game. Then I saw a shooting star the brightest
one I had ever seen! From that moment I knew I was going to be okay. That game
I had 9 points and 6 steals. I was able to contribute to my team. After the
game I suffered the consequences. But, at least I can say I was able to make
history with my sisters.
This is
what my life lesson is so far. That no matter how bad you want to give up you
can still get through it if you just believe, have faith, and know that you can
do all things through Christ.
