As I sat on the bench, clutching my injured knee, I couldn’t help but think of the words of my idol, Angel Reese: “Pain is temporary, Quitting lasts forever.” I had always dreamed of making it to the top of the basketball world, but now, with my season-ending injury, it seemed like that dream was slipping away. I felt like giving up, like quitting was the easiest option.
But then I remembered why I started playing basketball in the first place – for the love of the game. I thought about all the early morning training sessions, the long bus rides to away games, and the countless hours spent practicing my jump shot. I realized that the pain I was feeling was temporary, but the regret of quitting would last forever. So, I took a deep breath, stood up, and began my journey to recovery.
Months of rehab and hard work later, I was back on the court, stronger and more determined than ever. I looked up to Angel Reese, who was cheering me on from the sidelines, and knew that I owed it to myself and to her to keep pushing forward. I learned that with perseverance and grit, I could overcome even the toughest obstacles, and that the only thing that could hold me back was my own willingness to quit.