My Story by Powell, Kari

November 2015- Cousin AVM rupture

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:26:01 UTC

She was in Hershey Hospital in a coma for 3 weeks. Visited her every couple days to just talk with her in hopes that she would wake up

March 2020- COVID

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:26:38 UTC

disruption of Freshman year; on route to state swim championships. Cancelled day we arrived at pool. No school for a couple weeks, no athletic activities. Learned that I don’t like sitting still and isolation. I need activity and friends to share with.

March 2021- Won swimming states

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:27:23 UTC

Culmination of swim season of masks and social distancing; figuring out how to train and stay focused; conquer fear that I could test positive at any moment and be told that I could not compete. No spectators, complete internal motivation.

September 2021- Homecoming

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:27:45 UTC

Beginning of best friendship/relationship in my life.

January 2022- Found out I had mono and Fractured my foot in same week

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:28:24 UTC

Very anxious as I was scheduled for HPU ID camp and at height of swim training. Blizzard came through postponed ID clinic.

March 2022- Won 2nd State Championship

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:28:57 UTC

Complete goal setting – learned to focus on what I control and realized I am accountable to myself and the effort I put into things. Also realized the joy of just being satisfied – working at something as if I’m doing for God.

April 2022- Visited HPU

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:29:48 UTC

fell in love with everything about school. HPU soccer coach offered spot of HPU roster and scholarship. Committed to HPU. Two weeks later coach left; awaiting new coach to see if offer still stood. Could not have planned for this other than just prepared myself to take advantage of an opportunity if God opened it up for me. And He did.

November 2022- Decided not to swim senior year

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:30:52 UTC

Made decision to not swim senior year high school and forfeit chance to achieve third state gold. The decision was emotional and purposeful as I saw the benefit of spending time and supporting my friends rather than focusing solely on myself. Realized sometimes decisions don’t feel 100% great. This is where I started to think about the difference between regret and disappointment. I decided that I would regret not putting time into my most important relationships. Also committed to training/preparing for HPU soccer.

Week of July 29- August 5- Worst week of my life

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-15 14:32:11 UTC

Started out saying goodbye to my family and friends as we left for school. May have been the worst day of my life thus far emotionally. Great first week of practice. Ended week (August 5) tearing my ACL in our exhibition game. Began the hard learning that sometimes you think youre preparing for one thing, and it turns out God has other plans. Turns out I was preparing my body to endure an injury and a surgery.

Theme 1

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-16 14:54:55 UTC

Keep moving forward even when things don’t go as planned.

Theme 2

kpowell1_19 — 2024-01-16 14:55:17 UTC

Trusting God is in control of everything helps me accept that I don’t have to control everything. Just do what I can do, and focus on doing it very well.