Kristen

Resilient.

That is what I want people to know about me. That I am resilient. This piece is not meant to be my life story but there are a few things that I should mention so I can explain why I describe myself this way.

As a child, I had 6 surgeries on my eyes for Strabismus. I remember laying in the recovery rooms with my eyes swollen shut, in an immense amount of pain, feeling incredibly scared. However, I somehow knew that the pain was temporary and that I could handle it. I also distinctly remember the kindness and compassion I felt from the nurses who were tending to me. People who did not know me, but who cared for me as if they did. It was a reminder that I was not alone and could get through the day.

As a child to becoming an adult, I’ve always had this drive to overcome all barriers in life – difficult classes, hurtful words said about me, difficult opponents in soccer. I worked hard to succeed. It’s a part of who I am and who I’ll always be.

Flash forward to college. I played on the soccer team and was majoring in Occupational Therapy. I had success as a freshman – I worked so hard to be a part of the starting 11 on the field and to receive the Rookie of the Year award for the conference. Sophomore year comes and I got a concussion. It knocked me out. For a week, I was nauseous, sensitive to light/noise, in pain, unsteady on my feet, unable to sleep, experienced mood swings, and so much more. I was pressured to play again. I ended up quitting the soccer team because I was having trouble with academics and realized that my health was more important than a game. In a short span of time, I lost the sport that I dedicated my  heart to, a passion, teammates, and friends. I had never felt more lonely, helpless, and discouraged in my life. I couldn’t see the light, and I didn’t want to.

In this time, I chugged along like everything was normal when I felt far from it. I had a hard time being social. I knew people didn’t believe me despite the fact that I had symptoms months later. But then I met people. Good people. I felt how genuine they were. I was welcomed with open arms. I still struggled, but they picked up my pieces and slowly put the puzzle of myself back together. I owe them everything for helping me find myself and my resilience again.

 I remembered how I felt in those recovery rooms with the nurses. These wonderful people I met on this dark and hazy journey helped me be resilient again.

I graduated OT school, moved to Boston with the love of my life, landed a dream job, and am so unbelievably happy each day.

I came across a bible verse, Corinthians 16:14: “let all that you do be done in love”. It stuck with me my sophomore year. Love is experienced and given in so many ways, and it is SO important to give and take.

So as I begin my career as an OT with older adults, I try to treat them with knowledge, compassion, sympathy, and strength. When you give that strength to someone else, you give them the fuel to be resilient. Resilience isn’t always overcoming something major. It’s finding the will to get out of bed in the morning when times are rough. It’s pulling up your pants on your own. It’s chasing your dream when you feel as if all hope is lost. Rediscovering the resilience in myself has inspired me to help others be resilient in their lives to achieve what they once thought to be a lost cause.

So what do I want people to care about in this world? Simple. Giving and taking. Give love, strength, kindness, compassion, sympathy, empathy. And take it. every single day. we need one another. We are not meant to go through this life alone. The beautiful thing about being human is the emotion we feel each day. Find what you need, release it, and receive it. Do all things in love.

Love always,

Kristen