Overcoming Injury by Caleb

Overcoming Injury by Caleb - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

For most of my life, soccer was everything. It was how I pushed myself, how I stood out, and how I envisioned my future. I spent countless hours training, studying plays, and pushing beyond my limits. With my mom as my biggest supporter, I chased the dream of playing at the college level. But during what seemed like a routine moment on the field, everything shifted. A sharp pain in my back led to a diagnosis: a spinal fracture. Just like that, my dream of playing soccer was put on hold, and eventually, I had to face that it might be over entirely.
Losing soccer felt like losing a piece of myself. But while I sat on the sidelines, something unexpected happened: I began to see who I was beyond the field. Around the same time, I got involved in DECA, where I worked with a team to develop and pitch a business plan. We poured hours into our project: brainstorming, refining, and learning how to present under pressure. Our team ended up competing at a high level, and I discovered a rush that was different from scoring a goal, but just as fulfilling. It lit something new in me.
DECA became the bridge to something bigger: studying business in college. I’ve since started a vending machine business with my roommate, applying everything I’ve learned from teamwork, strategy, and resilience. It’s not the path I thought I’d take, but it is one I’ve grown to be proud of.
If I could give my past self one piece of advice, it would be this:
Don’t measure your worth by the path you expected—measure it by how you adapt when that path changes.
The injury closed one door, but DECA, business, and self-discovery opened a dozen more. I’ve learned that success isn’t about sticking to one dream. It’s about learning, adjusting, and having the courage to chase a new one.