When injury strikes, players lose more than a team

....Student-athletes face tremendous pressures to balance both sports and academics. The toll those pressures can take on their mental health comes in many forms. For Vassell, losing the ability to play UNC soccer left her searching for a sense of purpose and belonging. The feeling still lingers today.....
....“The overarching thing that I’m noticing with myself and my healing process is the fact that I don’t feel like I have a thing,” Vassell said. “All my friends who aren’t athletes have a thing, and all of my friends who are athletes obviously have a thing with their sport. For me, I had to go out and find my own things, which is usually what everyone does when they first come to school.”....   ...more

Bethany`s Notes: How does a season ending injury affect a student athlete? How about a career ending injury? This article is a good read on how students view themselves post injury. It`s a very honest and true read of personal experiences. Is there a way to help our student athletes redefine themselves in addition to their sport? Who are they outside of their sport? What other activities do they like doing?