When I was younger, I always dreamed of competing at the highest level.

Honestly, I did not care what sport or in what fashion, but I was bound and determined to work as hard as I possibly could to put myself in a position to be a Division I student-athlete.

In those early years, hockey was my sport of choice. There was something about the speed and physicality of the game that drew me in from the very beginning. 

Little did I know, however, that a lack of opportunity for hockey in the state of Ohio would put me in a position to try a new sport that would change the course of my life forever. 

A roadblock

Unfortunately, growing up in Columbus, there was quite a shortage of possibilities for girls in hockey. It had always been my first love, so exploring something new came with its fair share of skepticism on my part.

Around middle school, though, I decided to give lacrosse a try. 

After all, maybe I could just use it to stay in shape for hockey season and hope for more opportunities to open up down the line. 

Much to my surprise, however, hockey became an afterthought. 

I completely fell in love with lacrosse and grew incredibly fond of the midfield position. 

The game was fast-paced, and having the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball was incredibly exciting. I was on a mission to be the best midfielder that this game had ever seen.

A chronic lung-disease diagnosis, however, halted those plans and was proving to be a significant roadblock along that journey to greatness. 

When I was just five years old, I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder that, through several factors, causes significant breathing concerns and reduced lung function. 

The older I got, the harder it became for me to compete. In my position as a midfielder, especially as the competition grew more fierce, I was doing a large majority of the running on the field to move the ball in one direction or the other for my team. 

Due to my diagnosis, I was experiencing asthma attacks and would often have to be taken out of games due to breathing concerns. My family, coaches, and team of medical doctors at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, were all growing increasingly concerned.   

While I embodied the same uneasy feeling regarding my health, hanging up my cleats was simply just not an option. Sports were, and always will be, absolutely everything to me. 

I could not, for one single second, envision my life without athletics as the central part of it, especially lacrosse. 

I had a choice to make. 

I could surrender to this chronic illness and give up on my dreams, or I could find another way to compete. 

Finding a way

As my freshman year of high school came underway, with the support of my medical team, I chose the latter. I changed positions on the lacrosse field and became a goalie. 

Day in and day out, I worked as hard as I could to perfect the new set of skills required for this position. I learned how to square up to attackers, react quickly, and maintain solid balance. 

I embraced this new role of being the last line of defense for my team and took an incredible amount of pride in making game-altering saves. 

While the transition to this new position was difficult and required countless hours of hard work, a beautiful thing transpired during that time.

I completely fell in love with the game of lacrosse all over again. 

I was still competing but in an entirely new way.   

This time, my health and safety as the priority. 

Fulfilling a dream

Over the course of a successful high school career, my name began to emerge as one of the top lacrosse goalies in the region. 

While I was certain that my college years would be spent within the state of Ohio, the final destination was largely unknown. That was until I made an official visit to the campus of Kent State University.

Instantly, I knew I was home. 

The pure beauty of the campus was undeniable, and I felt an instant bond with members of the team as well as the coaching staff. 

Without the incredible support and guidance of my medical team at Nationwide, I am certain that these dreams would never have come true. 

No matter my goals or aspirations, this group of professionals has always done everything in its power to help me succeed.

They always ensured that I was included in all of the latest medical trials and had the opportunity to experiment with the newest medications available. 

With my diagnosis, there will always be challenges in life that I will have to overcome. Ordinary tasks that seem basic to most people, can be quite strenuous and taxing for me. 

I have always been an individual who is determined to succeed despite the odds that stand before me. 

And that, for me, will never change.

I will continue to press forward and work as hard as I can to be the best teammate, goalie, and student that I can be. 

After graduation, I long to be a nurse in the field who can help others and give back even an ounce of love and support that my team of professionals has shown me along my journey. 

I do not know for certain what the future holds, but I know that there is an incredible amount of strength inside of me that will always fuel my drive to succeed. 

Where there is a will, there is always a way.  

For more Kent State of Mind narratives, click here.