beautiful disasters
25th February 2009
B Division South Zone Quarter Finals
RGS vs St Margs
CCAB Courts
That day was, as I had once perceived, to probably be the worst day of my life. The worst possible imaginable thing happened to me and I felt as though the world has come tumbling down upon my netball career, something that I hold dearly to my heart, something that I felt that I was actually good at. Life was dark at that moment, I didn’t know what would happen to me, how long I’ll take to recover and most of all, will I ever be able to play again. At that moment, I really felt that I was living in a nightmare, it was all way too surreal and it took much effort for it to sink into my densed head that, I Just Tore My Freaking ACL.
Countless times, the thought of giving up netball (and possibly sports in general) crossed my mind. Stemmed from the trauma of experiencing excruciating pain of surgery and recovery as well as for fear of immobility in the future. Transiting from sec 4 to JC1, I was considering of totally leaving behind what has accompanied me through years of ups and downs to pursue something less, traumatic and painful. I’m not sure whether I’ve mentioned this to anyone, but in Jan/Feb 2010, I was seriously considering quitting netball to pursue a leadership role in the RI 30th Student’s Council. Well, with no intention of putting down Council, I chose netball. It was an easily hard decision ? I mean what was holding me back from quitting netball were excuses I made up myself. In a way, there was an internal dilemma ? HAHA weirdz.
By the way, that was the Best. Decision. I. Made.
Easy enough, the innate passion and longing to blaze up and down the courts and feel the rubbery feeling of the netball ball on my fingers were the driving force that pushed it towards pursuing netball. Some might find it a waste that in my first year in RI netball, I spent almost every training in the gym, building up strength on my injured leg rather than be on court, the way a sport is meant to be played. Well, I must admit, many times I found myself feeling sian about being stuck in the gym, yearning to partake in court trainings alongside fantastic talented teammates. But, on hindsight, I’m glad I did commit to my strengthening workout.
It was certainly not a waste of a year. Rehabilitation and recovery has taught me patience and focus. Patience because it takes a helluva time and effort for my leg to gain strength and focus because I kept my eyes on the prize throughout the entire year, and that was to make an awsm comeback by season 2011. Little did I waver and let lose of the goal in mind.
So what if I was still not quite prepared for a competitive A Div 2011. It’s fine so long as the best players from Raffles are on court.
25th February, little did I know then, was indeed a blessing in disguise. Little would I have expected to act as a role model and source of inspiration to others. Ann and Shaeron were fortunate/unfortunate to have had to experience a similar incident. I’m glad that they come to me for advice and that they hope to come back on court strong soon enough, just like I did or even better.
So guys, everything happens for a reason. Stay strong(:
xoxo
