T.C. Christian...... Not A Good Start

The summer had been great. I had a blast as every summer was to me. Still business was business to me and I still had to work out to make the west basketball team the following season. I was very determined once again to get that jersey and represent my school. About a three weeks until school started my mother had told me that she was transferring me to Traverse City Christian High School. I was not very happy at all. I complained, whined, cried, and was upset all the time. Finally my mother had told me that they did not cut the players in their sports program. I had told her, "Oh of course you wait to tell me that!" This changed everything. I got excited and was more pumped than ever.

The school year had started and it was so different than the huge public school. I got comfortable with my surroundings and was soon happy with the decision my mom had made. Although everything was going great, my grades were slipping. This was a bad thing for my mom because this was my freshman year in high school and grades mattered. I didn't care about that, basketball started in a week.

There I was, shooting hoops outside my house getting ready for the first day of practice which was tomorrow. I did some quick moves and was practicing intensely when I stepped on the pavement wrong. I heard a snap and thought nothing of it. I continued to practice until it started to hurt. I called it good and went into my house. The pain started to get worse and worse. I had finally told my mom that we needed to go get it checked out. She finally agreed.

"Mr Eikey, you seem to have a fracture in your foot." It felt like he was talking in slow motion as I envisioned my basketball season soar by once again. I jumped up and yelled at him "no no no no no!" as if it was his fault. "How long until it heals?" "We are going to have to cast you up, so I would say around a good month and a half." The doctor had explained. There was still that chance that I would play after it heals.

For a month and a half, I sat there and once again observing my friends participate in my love and passion while I sat with a suit and tie imagining playing. It was that day again where I had a doctors appointment to remove my cast. I had gotten the O.K. to go and play ball. I had my mind on nothing else but to play basketball.

There I was, on the court, all dressed to play basketball. I had waited patiently for three years for this. Waiting was all worth it at this point. The sweat ran down my face, the smiles from fans, and the adrenaline was all there, just as I dreamed.

I had just recorded anther rebound and on my way down the court when I felt a quick snap in that same area. I tried to ignore it, but the pain was unbearable and I motioned the coach to sub me out. I had broken my foot again.

After breaking my foot for the second time, I was casted once again for the remainder of the season. I fell greatly depressed and had no motivation to do anything. School became pointless and socializing was not part of my happiness at this point. I did not want anything to do with God at this point because he had let me down so many times. All I wanted to do was to play basketball. The last hope of God in my life at this time was when I got my cast taken off again. Two days later I was back at the hospital for a broken foot. I did not want anything to do with God. He was not real to me. I ended my first year at the Christian high school with a G.P.A. of 1.4 weighing 268 lbs, great depression, and not any fun at all.

My sophomore year started by changing my life forever. The rap/hip hop artest Kanye West, had just released a single called "Stronger." I listened to it over and over again. It seemed like the months of counseling and help I had gotten were not needed. All I needed was this song. This Song had givin me the inspiration I needed to continue and push through in my life. This was exactly what I needed to get through school that year. My relationship with God had improved dramatically because I had finally figured out what he was doing with me. I learned that God communicated with me through basketball. He gave me this passion and it was for a reason. I ended my sophomore season very well and played the season without any injury. It was a great start for me and basketball.

Stay strong even if your feeling weak. This is what I had learned through my dramatic tenth grade experience. I had been at the lowest point in my life ever and I never gave up. I wanted to, but for me, it's harder to give up than to push harder. The word strong is in my vocabulary almost with everything. By pushing yourself and staying strong through hard situations, anything can be achieved. God had helped me through push through because he knew I needed that push. I thank God for everything he did. I thank him for putting me on that low level in my life. Without going through that, I would have never been as strong as I am today and God would probably not exist in my life at this point. Stay strong and keep pushing.