I think of how far I have come in this journey called life. For all the life changing events, I noticed that the FEAR and anticipation was more difficult than the actual outcome. I kept finding myself saying after the fact, "That actually wasn't that bad." With the motivation to change, I was able to accomplish things that I thought at the time would be too difficult.

Throughout middle school and high school, I LOVED playing volleyball. I couldn't get enough. I would love when I would have three hour practices. I would either play with my cousin, Larnie, my dad, my friends or anyone who would want to play at any time. So when I went to college, I knew I wanted to play and I KNEW I could play at that level. So I contacted the head volleyball coach to discuss the possibility of playing and all I remember was that she asked, "How tall are you?" I said, "5'3." The coach kinda chuckled and said, "You can tryout." I knew she had already counted me out because of my height. I wanted to play so bad as well as prove to her that I could play. So that entire summer before the start of the volleyball season, I trained on my own including playing volleyball and conditioning with running long distance and performing sprints around my neighborhood. So tryout day had arrived. I was very nervous at first and did not do well with warming up with one of the veteran players. But as the practice went on, I got into my groove and was outplaying the veteran players with my skills and conditioning. I KNEW I belonged! During one specific practice, we were scrimmaging and I was on the second team. We were up against the starters. Throughout the scrimmage, no one could score on me! I keep digging up all the attacks/hits that came my way. The head coach couldn't deny my skill and inserted me on the starting team. One of the stars on the team, said to me, "Do what you were doing on the other side. Dig up all these balls!" At that point, I never looked back. Needless to say, I became a four year starter and was second all time on the games played list and missing the record by only three games!

When I was a physical therapy student, I struggled as I completed my rotation in outpatient physical therapy. I felt like I was always studying and had such difficulty transitioning to more independence with my patient load. I look back and think, "How did I pass?" Well I somehow did, but once I became a licensed physical therapist, I never thought I could work in outpatient orthopedics again. I worked two years in a hospital, but was already getting burnt out. I needed a change and wanted to do outpatient orthopedics but I kept thinking about my traumatizing experience as a student. Even fellow colleagues thought the transition would be too difficult and could never seem themselves transitioning to orthopedics. Luckily, I found a job that catered towards new grads and offered mentorship. While the first three months were pretty rocky and I did struggle, I quickly learned patterns with patients' impairments and quickly became comfortable in this setting. Being in outpatient orthopedics for 5 years now, I know I could never go back to working in the hospital setting. I look back and say, "The transition wasn't so bad!"

I have realized that the seemingly scary, difficulty or challenging times "are not so bad." It is more of the fear and anticipation, which creates doubt or the mindset that it's not possible. But looking back through things I have overcome, I realize that I can accomplish anything as I long as I am motivated to do it. While I continue my journey as I start my own business and eventually create my own product, I know I'll look back and realize it was not that bad.