Waking up to blood covering the bed, vomiting with a splitting headache, sensitivity to light and noise, and fatigue. This was my sixth concussion at the age of 15. Concussions affect my life every day by affecting my memory. My first was at the age of 11. I was always smaller than everyone, though that didn’t affect the way I played. Cocky – yes, I was. I believed I could do anything and tackle anyone, no matter their size. “Nobody has the heart, desire, or will power on the field like you,” Coach always told me.

During the next five years, I accumulated eight concussions, which ended my sports activities. During the last couple, I had memory loss, which made taking the ACT and keeping my grades up impossible.

From seventh to tenth grade, sports were the only thing on my mind. Every year I suffered one or two concussions, which affected my personality and academic record. The first concussion, when I was 11, happened during wrestling practice. I was thrown off the mat while practicing lateral throws, and my head landed on the tile floor.

Eighth grade year started with football. Our team was undefeated 3-0, and I didn’t let anyone score from my position as safety. Then came the fateful game. The first play, I tackled another player, helmet-to-helmet contact.
After we crashed, I got right up and rushed back to the huddle, even though everything was a little fuzzy. I went to tackle the next kid, and he kept disappearing. I kept telling myself, “It’s okay. You’re just having a bad game. Make the next one.”

After that play I don’t remember the rest of the game. During the third quarter, I walked into the wrong huddle. Coach pulled me from the game, and the athletic trainer checked me out and diagnosed me with another concussion.
I had to ride the bench for a while, but I got to play the last game of the season. Our team was 8-1 and everyone was glad I was back. Unfortunately, my return wasn’t for long. In that game, I got another concussion by tackling the other team’s quarterback.

Another year, two concussions.

Wrestling season started, but I missed two weeks of practice since I was recovering from the football concussion just a couple weeks before. I did well and went 32-4 for the season. At regionals, I got thrown into the scoring table; I hit my head. I still got up and wrestled, and I took first place.
The rest of the day I was dizzy and nauseous, though I had my mind on the state tournament. That night I woke up to a bloody nose and knew I had another concussion. My chances of winning state were gone. My dad rushed me to the hospital, and I was diagnosed with another concussion in four months.

Three concussions later, the worst one in my life happened. Playing football, I hit another guy helmet to helmet. I blacked out on the field. The emergency medical squad rushed me to the hospital. I woke up with a splitting headache in the hospital. The doctor said, “You have a severe traumatic brain injury and should go home and sleep. No TV, and no electronics.” I woke up that night with blood covering my body and bed. I puked off my bed and tried to stand up but fell. Then I screamed for my mom.

My last concussion happened sophomore year during wrestling season. I got dropped on my head during the bi-state tournament. I had no symptoms the day it happened. The next day in class I felt dizzy and fatigued, so I left school and got in the car to go home. I blacked out behind the wheel going 60 mph. The car went into a ditch and through the woods until I hit a tree, which woke me up.

I called my parents, and they took me to the University of Madison Hospital. The doctor asked me many questions and then said, “I would advise you to not play sports.”
I replied, “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious,” he said. “You could have died, and the amount of trauma your head has been through can be long term.”
The doctor was right. My grades had slipped severely, and so had my academic memory. The choice I made to continue playing despite my concussions will affect me for the rest of my life. I wished I had learned my lesson before this happened.

I have headaches every day. I apply myself the best I can in college, though it is extremely hard to comprehend all the information. My mom wants me to go to a specialist to test for long-term side effects. I’m scared to know the outcome, so I haven’t gone.

Concussions have affected my life greatly. But every day I push to overcome the worst and prove to myself that I can do anything. I will always be affected by concussions, but I will never give up trying to reach my goals.