My sister, Nicki Stone, is a senior at Arizona State University and plays soccer. Being fourteen months apart in age, we are very close. It is difficult for me knowing that she lives across the country and I don't get to see her that often, but I am so proud of all that she has accomplished and where she is at now. She has played soccer all four years of being at school, but has had many injuries. She tore her ACL in her left knee multiple different times, as well as lost cartilage in the same knee and had to get various different surgeries to help regain the cartilage back. She has yet to play a full season at ASU healthy, but she still works hard. Soccer has been one of the most important things in Nicki's life since she was young and to watch her get a full ride scholarship to the college of her dreams and not be able to play a full season because of her injuries breaks my heart. Finally, this year has been her best year with her injuries. She is still not totally recovered and never will make a full recovery but she is as healthy as she can get with being able to play.
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Because my sister goes to school so far away, my family and I rarely get to see her, let alone watch her play soccer. Her school is in the Pac 12, so some games are televised which is so exciting because even though we aren't out in Arizona watching her live, we still get to watch her on tv. We try to make it a family event when she has a game on tv. I come home from school to spend family time and watch the game. So when my brother doesn't stay to watch with us and chooses to go out with his friends instead it makes me upset. My family couldn't be more proud of my sister and it is the best feeling to what someone you love, do what they love and really feel happy and alive out on the soccer field.
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When my brother doesn't stay to support, it makes me feel like he doesn't care and that he is being selfish. I feel that that's a time to put aside your life and be supportive to your family. |
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Putting Others First vs. Putting Yourself First
Sometimes it's best to put others before yourself. In the sense of watching my sister play soccer rather than going out with friends, putting her before myself is important. I am a proud sister and I get a sense of enjoyment when I see her succeed. When my brother puts himself before her in that sense, it makes me think that he isn't as proud and doesn't care as much to watch her and support her.
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If you invest too much time into others and not enough into yourself, you may lose yourself. During my freshman and sophomore year of college, I had a boyfriend that I put before anyone else, including myself. He was most important to me at all times and I would drop anything for him. When it came to doing things that I wanted to do, I refrained because I didn't want it taking up any time that I could be spending with him. Instead of being the successful and involved person that I should have been in college, I became weak and dependent on my boyfriend. All of my decisions were solely based off and around him.
After we broke up, I started to do more things for myself. I'm now more involved than ever on campus. I play sports, I do various different clubs and activities such as the Harley Flack Mentoring Program and work at the tutoring center. It is important to not lose who you are and still do the things that make you happy individually, because the people that are most important in your life at one point, may not always be around. |