A healing—and a way forward

Originally appeared online in the teen series Your Healings -  August 8, 2023

I was attending a college that hadn’t been my first choice. Although I tried to keep my spirits up about this new experience, I was unhappy. I was a freshman on the basketball team and my schedule consisted of waking up at 4 a.m. for practice, going to classes, practicing basketball individually, and staying on top of homework. This seemingly never-ending cycle repeated for the first three weeks of my freshman year.

I felt depressed, empty, and like something was missing in my life. Questions ran through my mind such as, “Is this really where God wants me to be?” and, “Do I have to stay here even though I’m not happy?” 

Things seemed to get worse after one early morning practice. I felt fatigued and wanted to relax at home before my afternoon class. Walking back to my car, I was unaware of an uneven portion of the sidewalk. My foot caught on the concrete and I fell hard on the rough ground. 

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