Barlow Hannah Barlow Ms.

Gardner English 10 per 1 15 January 2014 Feet in the Clouds The wind pulsed across my face, and heat consumed my body; my feet ached from the constricting cleats that dribbled a soccer ball. Seconds that felt like hours were passing, as I sprinted towards the goal across the velvet green turf. I was untouchable. You can do it! Run! Coach Fetter screamed, sprinting along the sidelines with me, his voice propelling my feet to carry me faster than the wind was blowing. Only a few feet from the goal, time stopped; suddenly, I was consumed in screaming pain. The pain came from none other than my ticket to victorymy kicking foot. The ride to the hospital felt more painful than the actual foot breaking, but it was nothing compared to the news I received from the doctor minutes later. I sat upon the sterile hospital bed as Dr. Chan walked in bearing the x-ray results. Im sorry but it looks as if your soccer playing days are over, and other sports will be difficult for you to participate in, he solemnly spoke, as he showed my mother and I the x-rays of my fractured foot, There will forever be a piece of chipped of bone near the knuckle of your big toe. The girl who had stomped purposefully on my foot had broken my first metatarsal bones that connect my toes to my feet. The first metatarsal bone, is the strongest and biggest of the five bones. Its extra strength and structure is used to support the foot in high stress activities including walking, running, or sprinting.

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I had already broken this bone once before, and this time it was career ending. The lady at the front will give you your boot, and the pain medication that you will need, Dr. Chan informed us patting my shoulder as he walked out. Wait! I called, How long will I have to wear the boot? Only 5 weeks, He responded with a curt nod. Walking out of Kaiser Permanente Hospital, the realization set in that I would have to wear a clunky boot to my first day of seventh grade. For the next couple weeks of summer I watched the childrens movie Happy Feet on my bed rest, trying to lift my own spirits by watching the singing penguins dance on their unharmed feet. Everything for the rest of the summer, related to what I couldnt do because of my foot. Swimming and going to the beach were amongst some of the activities that my friends left me out of. Each day closer to school got harder, and my mother would try to say uplifting things to help me feel better. Feet are utilized for so many reasons, and as a young adult all sports activities require the use of feet. The soldiers that have lost feet, the people born without feet, and the people whose feet dont work are required to compensate for what they lack. In some cases it may be a prosthetic, in others it may just be finding non-active hobbies. All of these thoughts were what kept me grounded during my desperation to get back up and complain. Statistics show that around 80 years old youll have walked the equivalent of four times around the globe. My mother spouted, continuing with This is only five weeks! I smiled at her attempts but nonetheless the dreaded day came: the first day of school. I had a group of five girls that had planned to walk with me right down the street. We were leaving and only two of the girls were there ready to go. We left as late as we could, and much to our surprise when we

Barlow arrived, we saw the other three girls already in a group. That was the day when I discovered who my true friends were. Adria Barich, and Anna Sartori had still walked with me without hesitation, while the three other girls abandoned us because in their words I was a cripple. Even though I had lost many experiences with my friends because of my foot, I gained something more important: loyal friends. A loyal friend is someone who never leaves your side, even when it may not be easy. Without my unfortunate break I never would have come to the realization that my childhood friends would stick by me the closest. Sooner than I thought my five weeks were up and I was getting ready for the 80s dance with the friends who stood by me. We walked into the dance together with our dancing shoes on. Ironically, and much to my surprise, the speakers belted out Footloose. To this day I still havent forgotten the feeling of dancing on my newly healed foot to that iconic song. But will I ever play sports again? My mind constantly wondered whether I would ever return to what I loved doing most. Sure, I would be able to run again, but could I compete? Only a year later, and I was warming up for my 8th grade track finals. Coach Bradley was wrapping my foot because the pain was acting up. I sat down and took the pressure off my foot. This pain reminded me that wherever I go, I will always remember my injury and how the experiences I had because of it have shaped me. Both the positive and the negative. Slowly jogging around the track, Feet in the Clouds by Paul McCartney, played through my ear buds, a symbolism of my decision to let my feet take me in the direction that I should be headed. I stepped into my lane, banking on my foot to carry me through the race.

Barlow The foot, such a powerful extension of the body, and mine was broken! Doubt flooded my mind, and the image of falling right before the soccer goal replayed before my eyes. The gun shot off and I followed the curve of the track pumping my arms and losing my breath. You can do it! Run! Coach Bradley screamed, sprinting along the grass alongside me, propelling my feet to carry me faster than the wind was blowing. Crossing the finish line, I accomplished something I thought I may never be able to do it again: compete. I proved what Dr. Chan said to be wrong. Even though I couldnt play soccer, I found track, and that finding has changed me as a person. Feet take people where they want to go; they are the wheels to a truck, and the gas in the engine. My broken foot was my life, telling me to try something new: to experience activities I had not yet tried, to create new friendships, and to become a stronger person. If not for my injury, I never wouldve gotten the opportunity to do those things, and for that I am grateful.

Barlow Works Cited "Foot Facts." Foot.com. CMTA, n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. "human skeletal system." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopdia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. "metatarsal." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopdia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.