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By Katie Hayden
As we are now one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, I frequently find myself reflecting on the past 12 months. At this time last year, my school’s basketball teams had swept the regional tournament, so I had packed the car to head to Lexington to support them at state. I had purchased all kinds of green, gold, and glitter spirit wear to go “all-out” for my final student section days. I was gearing up for my senior softball season, preparing for my last month of exciting festivities at school, and enjoying every moment I had with my friends. I felt like I was on top of the world; then, everything stopped, and I fell.
I struggled through the months of quarantine. I cried as my “final festivities” were canceled, one after another. I broke down when I could not see my friends or enjoy these last moments with them. However, one day I had enough of the tears. I decided I was tired of being sad. That day, I decided to get back up.
In life, we will fall, get knocked around, and fall again; however, it is not falling that defines us. It is what we do afterward. Today, I am challenging you to make a decision. When you feel like you cannot take anymore and want to quit, choose to get back up. Stand up, stand tall, and keep moving. Do not let the worst parts of your day control you; you control them. When you reflect on the difficult times in your life, I hope it is not falling that stands out to you. Rather, I hope you see all the times you chose to get back up.