The senior year. It is supposed to be the best year of your life, right? Everything should fall into place. All the hard work and dedication a person has devoted into the school and athletics is finally going to pay off. Two more semesters and it is over. No more school, no more homework, no more classes, and unfortunately, no more sports.
Some of those things have came to an end earlier than I planned.
In a matter of one 25-minute office visit this summer, my doctor told me my anterior cruciate ligament was torn and complete reconstructive surgery was needed as soon as possible. My last year of playing competitive basketball quickly came to an end. The rehabilitation from the surgery takes seven to eight months. So, having the surgery in the beginning of August leaves me until March to start playing basketball again. This is one month after the season comes to an end and two months before I graduate and move on from this school forever.
This year was supposed to be my year for basketball. Playing at the University of La Verne for four years would have given me such an advantage. I know the program, I understand head coach Julie Kline’s coaching philosophy (finally), I know the conference like the back of my hand. But due to a major injury from the game I love, I will not be able to contribute on the court as a player this season.
Instead, I will sit on the sideline rooting the team on, cheering them to victories and motivating them to a championships. I will still be at every practice and try to help out as much as possible, travel on road trips when it is allowed, but it will never be the same and my life has changed for good.
I am not feeling sorry for myself; I actually have a pretty good attitude considering the circumstances. I have played basketball for 15 years and now it is over-competitively, at least. Everything happens for a reason. For some reason, it was not in my future to play basketball this year. Some things are meant to happen and some things are not, whether it is sports, school or even relationships. But how could something that I love so much and put so much into be taken away from me?
I have planned for this year since my sophomore year at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa. I remember one specific game that year when my team and I won a huge rival game by one point. It was one of my best games ever. It was the greatest feeling to win such a close game. I was in my coach’s office afterward and told him I wanted to play basketball in college.
He said he had no doubt in his mind I could do it. I remember asking him if he would come to my games in college, especially my senior year, (where ever I was going to play). He said he would not miss it for the world. Unfortunately I am going to miss it.
This reminds me of a tough call I had to make last summer before my surgery-the call to coach Kline. I knew about having to have surgery for about four days before I finally called her. I guess I was hoping for a miracle and I would be OK to play. I was wrong. The conversation went well, though. She was disappointed as well but what could she do? What could I do?
For you athletes that are out there playing your sports, enjoy it while you can because before you know it, it could be over. It is important that we do not take our health for granted. That goes for more than just sports, too. Anything in life that you enjoy could quickly be taken away from you.
Laura Czingula, a senior journalism major, is editorial director of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at czingula@ulv.edu.
