Humans of Brockport
“After the 2018–2019 school year, after already going through a major spine surgery pulling me out of my junior season of football and indoor track everything was looking up after I was finally cleared to compete for the outdoor track season which went very well. After the season, the summer came around and everything was going great until we had our first football practice. While doing a drill I dislocated my shoulder for the second time in a short period of time. This injury resulted in me going to the hospital and having to get an MRI on my shoulder to see if anything worse had happened that the doctors hadn’t noticed in the prior examination that they gave me. After 3 days of being in a sling and not being able to participate in any of my activities I had gotten my results back. The MRI showed that I had fully torn my labrum around a partial tear on my rotator cuff and that I needed surgery. I was initially upset about the whole situation, but I realized that it was the best option for me because if I did not get the surgery I would constantly feel pain and not be able to do some of the things that the everyday adult could do, so I went through with it. This surgery left me sitting out of my senior and final year of football in a sling which left me feeling like I was missing out on a major part of my life and and experience that I wouldn’t be able to feel ever again. Even though this had a big impact on my childhood experience I got over it with other sports and eventually when I moved into college here it’s been all uphill from here.”
“My 2020 was very difficult, as was everyone else’s, but my family in particular had a very hard year. In June my family suffered three losses in one month. An uncle of mine passed away due to COVID and then the following week we lost my aunt to COVID as well. The last week, two days after my graduation, we lost my grandma. After this I hit a pretty low point in my life. They were all pretty big personalities and influences in my life. That was really hard for me and I still haven’t really recovered from it fully. Just when our family thought it couldn’t get worse, my 13-year-old cousin took his own life. That caused a whole other spark of depressive episodes for me, and was very hard on the whole family. Especially to see his mother and little brother cope with his loss. I try to remember the good memories with all of the people I’ve lost and it helps me keep going. I also have little keepsakes from each of them so they’re always me. The first semester of college was definitely very difficult for me because I was learning how to navigate this new lifestyle without them there, but this semester I’m doing better and focusing on the good.”
“Growing up in a home with two immigrant parents has always been interesting to say the least. As I grew older and began to observe and comprehend my surroundings more I noticed how much more different my life was than my classmates. Fast-forward through high school, I don't think I could thank my parents enough for making sure I spent time with my family. Each aunt or uncle I speak with truly teaches me the importance of patience, determination, love, kindness, and humbleness. My family and relatives don’t come from old or new money or have fancy corporate jobs or a high school education. While many would see these as adversities, my family see’s these obstacles as just any other normal day. They push through and work day and night so my cousins and I have the tools we need to receive an education and persevere. I am the younegst of three in my family as well and the first to attened college. I am very thankful to have such supporting and loving parents to rely on when I’m feeling down especially during these difficult times.”