Thanksgiving is a time for thankfulness, even if troubles seem overwhelming. Sometimes, it takes limitations to get us to stop and appreciate the things we have. Anna Varley, ‘17, is a great example of how even when you fall down over and over, there is always something to stand back up for.

Last December, Varley fell during a basketball game and sprained her ankle. As a result, Varley was in a cast for two weeks after the injury; however, her ankle never fully recovered, and it was re-injured several times throughout the next few months.

“The hardest part was before I knew I was having surgery; I was not able to overcome the injury, and I was running out of things to try,” says Varley of her ankle injury.

The following May, the doctors decided to perform a surgery on her ankle to be done in July, with the hope of fixing her ankle and stopping further injury. After the surgery, Varley was in a cast for seven weeks, followed by a boot for the next eight weeks.

Even though Varley was not able to participate in sports this fall, she remained on her sports teams, supporting her teammates and doing everything she could. “It became really frustrating and discouraging having to sit out all of the time and never knowing if or when I could play again,” the athlete says.

Varley also said it was hard to stay positive; however, her friends and teammates would say she was extremely positive and supportive.

Although it has been a hard process for Varley, she said that there were some upsides to this experience, “It definitely made me be more appreciative. I learned to appreciate the times when I did get to play. It also made me realize how fortunate I am to be healthy because other people have it way worse.”

Although Varley has had a rough few months, her positive attitude, strength, and perseverance has helped her endure, and it’s taught her to be grateful for what she does have.