Progress Isn't Always Linear
When we set goals for ourselves, it's easy to imagine a straight path forward, “If I work hard and stay consistent, then eventually I will get where I want to go,” but I learned that real growth rarely happens that way.
This past year, while competing as a professional water polo player in Spain, I broke my hand. This was my first major injury and it felt like my entire career would be over. With less than three months left to compete in our season, I had to get surgery (in a foreign country) and I would be out of the pool for four weeks (the longest I have ever been out of the water since I started playing 14 years ago).
I was in pain, scared and felt extremely isolated. The routine that had become such a huge part of my life was suddenly gone, and it felt like I was watching my season continue from the sidelines.
In a team sport like water polo, you are always able to look to your teammates when things become difficult. They're a reminder that we're part of something bigger than ourselves and that we're never facing challenges alone, but being out of the water meant being separated from that support system. Suddenly, my progress looked very different from my teammates’. It was measured through doctor's appointments, and small milestones that felt insignificant compared to being in the pool.
But this experience challenged me to look at my journey in a new light. I had to realize that progress isn't always linear and sometimes growth happens when you're unable to move forward in the way you originally planned.
I found new ways to stay involved and challenged myself in areas I had never considered before. Running. Biking. Watching film. Connecting with teammates outside of practice. And throughout this I was able to lean on those around me and see that I was still a big part of the team even if my contributions looked different.
As we progressed through the season and my recovery, I continued to grow as a person and a player even if it wasn't quite the path I had envisioned. And just two months after surgery, I was back in the water competing and able to end the season playing with my teammates again.
Looking Ahead
After finishing in Spain, I returned to America to train with the USA Senior National Team and I have been able to take this lesson with me. I’ve found comfort in the knowledge that the path toward any meaningful goal is rarely a straight line. Not only was I able to finish out my professional season, but I was able to compete at the World Cup Qualifiers with Team USA in Rotterdam. Now, that journey gets to continue this summer as I compete for a chance to play in the World Cup in Sydney and keep working toward my long-term goal of competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
While competitions and milestones are exciting, I've come to appreciate what happens between them even more. The lessons learned when things don't go according to plan. The resilience built during difficult seasons. The growth that comes from adapting when circumstances change.
Breaking my hand didn’t ruin my journey, it is an important part of it!
Follow Betty Center for more updates on my journey, along with resources, support groups, events, and services designed to help women navigate challenges, pursue their goals, and continue growing through every stage of life.
