DELIVER

Moth Story Reflection: Game Over 

When I was younger my family and I lived in Alabama, and one thing about Alabama is that there are not a lot of Jewish people living there.  Being Jewish ourselves, It was really important to my parents that my sister and I had Jewish friends, so when I was 7 they started sending me to a Jewish overnight camp in Mississippi. Looking back now I can't believe that they sent me at such a young age, but it was definitely worth it because I loved it, and continued going to a similar camp when we moved up north. 

Another fact about me is that I have been playing soccer since I was 3 years old. These two things I love came together last summer when I was participating in a soccer clinic at my camp in the e Maine. We were doing a keep-away style drill, where there was a circle of people passing the ball, and a defender in the middle trying to get the ball. I was the defender, and I was lunging for the ball when I heard a "POP" coming from my knee. Every athlete will tell you that that is not a good sound, and it hurt a lot so I hobbled on down to the camp nurse. While a super nice lady, the camp nurse is certainly nowhere near board-certified, and she proceeded to tell me there was nothing wrong and to take it easy. Of course, I did not take it easy, and so the next day I found myself back at the soccer field. I spent about a half-hour testing the waters, doing small motions to see how much I could do until it hurt my knee. I eventually convinced myself I really was fine, and rejoined the group in time for some shooting drills. As I wound up for the shot, I heard the "POP" again, this time passing out from the pain. I ended up in the Bridgton Maine Emergency Room. The doctor informed me, and my mom over the phone, that such a small hospital didn't have emergency imaging, but that there was a pretty good chance I had torn a ligament. My choices were to stay at camp and risk my soccer season being over or to go home, have x-rays, and maybe be ok to play in the fall. I took the risk of staying at camp and returned home 2 weeks later to learn that I had completely torn my ACL and Meniscus. 2 months later I had surgery, and following 9 months of PT and doctor's appointments, I was finally cleared to return to the field. 

This experience taught me to know your limits and listen to your body,  but also that the comeback is always stronger than the setback.

Talk Reflection: 

I think I could have benefited from some additional practice before I told this story in front of the class.  Overall, I feel like I did a good job of keeping the audience engaged and using a lighthearted tone to tell this story.