Name: Hannah Walsh
Category: Graduate
Dr. Parker’s Quote: Your Relationship with God
You may not understand what God is doing now, but you will understand later.
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Essay:
“You may not understand what God is doing now, but you will understand later.” Dr. Parker
Hannah Walsh
Scholarship Contest Essay
It was my last season of high school volleyball and basketball and I was optimistic that my team would win state in volleyball. We had come so close last year. I remember running what seemed to be hundreds of sprints yelling “all the way to state!” Little did I know that a shoulder dislocation would cause me to end my volleyball and basketball career for life.
I was so disappointed to hear the doctor say that I would not be able to play in the state volleyball game after my dislocation and would need to have twelve weeks of physical therapy. My doctor told me that if I really worked on strengthening my shoulder I might have the chance to play basketball in the winter. I was disappointed about volleyball but I had been playing basketball much longer. I listened to his counsel and began to strengthen my shoulder so that I could continue to play basketball.
In 2004, my volleyball team did go to state without me as their left hitter. I was excited that they had made it that far, but was disappointed that I was unable to share directly in their experience. However, I still had my favorite sport basketball. That winter, I was able to play basketball but was anxious that I would have another injury.
During basketball season, I began to finalize my college applications and decided to weight out my options of playing collegiate basketball. I had played basketball since the first grade and was used to the daily practices, weekend games, and truly had ‘the love of the game’. I dreamed of going to Rollins since I was a little girl and had even began to pursue playing basketball at Rollins.
However, God had other plans for my college career. God’s plan was not for me to play basketball. I was disappointed that I would not play due to my shoulder injury and a prior ankle fracture, but was confident that this was the direction that God wanted me to take. Instead of spending time playing collegiate basketball, I became involved in other activities. I furthered my interest in music by taking private guitar and piano lessons at Rollins. I was elected President of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society and became involved in a girl’s Bible study. I took time during summer and winter breaks to study through international field studies. I was able to spend time with family more and was able to learn so much about my grandma through listening to her stories. Since I accepted God’s plan for my life, I was blessed by the many experiences that I never would have had if I had tried to push my own desire to play college basketball.
Even though I still do not always understand why God is doing something in my life, I am reminded of the good that came from me trusting in God’s will for my life. I am encouraged by God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11 to prosper me and give me a hope and a future.
