my disaster

Dear Coach, In this past year, I have suffered and began to overcome my largest personal disaster. Because of a misinterpreted conversation, I was suspended from my last month of cheerleading as a Varsity Cheerleader at my high school after for years of being Captain. This started the snowball of doom and disaster for me. This created segregation from my longtime friends and peer group and instilled in me the emotions of if they think I’m bad, I might as well be bad. I began to associate with peers who were not the best element and was peer pressured into making choices that were not in my nature. I made poor decisions and was not happy with myself. This causes me to sink into depression and suffer from anxiety. Added to this I graduated from high school and started to my college career, causing more stress and anxiety and pushing me further into depression. I put up walls and did not communicate with my family or old friends, I was sad all of the time, and I continued to be pressured by my peers. This caused me to become ill and suffer from pneumonia and mental stress. Meanwhile, I was still trying to negotiate college life and get good grades. About 9 months into this journey, my new “unsavory” friends turned on me and showed me their real colors. I was lured to a secluded location and taunted and beat up because I wasn’t providing to them what they believed I should. After a number of very lonely and bleak weeks, where I contemplated suicide, I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My family and some of my old friends pulled me from the depths of depression and offered me opportunities to mentor my peers and help them so they would not fall into the same hole I did. At first it was extremely difficult and I didn’t think I could make a difference in others life choices, but slowly I learned I could and did. Also, I was faced with a decision to help an abused animal. I chose to rescue this puppy and she has in turn became my therapy and my passion in life. Just when things started to turn around, and I thought I had my life and education under control, the semester ended and I learned I failed one of my classes. Oddly, this was a surprise to me, I knew I wasn’t doing well, but not to the point of failure. I was so disappointed in myself and couldn’t believe this had happened. I lost my scholarships and was placed on academic probation – this was devastating to a student who always had a 3.8 GPA and was on the honor roll. Over the last months, I had learned I was strong and could prove myself to others. I became very determined and wrote letters to my school and fought for my scholarships, I was awarded them back and plan to continue to prove I am deserving. Although I am only a quarter of the way through the current semester, I am maintaining all A’s and plan to retake the failed class and get an A in that as well. Have learned a great deal and now have tools to fight my adversities, my personal disaster started from an insignificant snowball and turned into an avalanche. From this experience, something I never thought I would face, I have learned how to face a disaster and overcome it. I use many techniques, including talk therapy, relaxation techniques, exercise, and animal therapy. I have learned to trust again and I know my family and real friends are there for me unconditionally. From all of this, I learned animals can be a savior. I think I have found my true calling and I am hoping to continue my education and become a veterinarian. I have been working at a vet clinic and I am a vet tech as well as a full time student. I have received a fellowship at my college and I am in a position to help other high school student’s transition into college and secondary education. So you as a Coach as a mentor for young women, need to understand the lasting implications of your actions and how profoundly they impact young minds. Please don’t let the next snowball become an avalanche. Sincerely- Katelyn