Senior Reflection: Adaeze Obinnah
6/19/2017 2:07:58 PM | General, Blog
This summer on the RBlog we will be featuring several graduating seniors with reflections on theircareers at Rice University, beginning first with Adaeze Obinnah of women'sbasketball.
By:Adaeze Obinnah
I felt on top of the world. I knew heading intomy senior season that I had an internship set for the summer (Auditing at PwC)and that I would be back in the fall (studying Accounting at Jones School ofBusiness). I had nothing holding me back and was ready to finish my careerstrong. But then I got injured. It felt like the world toppled down on me. Ineeded two surgeries and was told I could possibly play after the first. I hadthe first surgery on the day of our home opener. I rehabbed. I practiced. I trained. I traveled, but I was never cleared to play.
Before the season started our team did agrit test. Then during our first conditioning practiceof preseason, the beep test was a follow-up test as evidence of where we fellon the grit scale. After dropping out early, I felt bad that I showed littlegrit. But in hindsight, I realize the test wasn't really an accurate assessmentof grit. When I look back at this past season, I just didn't see an option togive in. God wanted me to be here. There was purpose in this unfortunate event.
I got to see a different part of the game andthe team. What amazed me was how much love this team had to give. I felt like Ilost a part of my identity and yet, they still valued and supported me. Theywere lifting me up even when I had nothing to give in return. It wasn't just myteammates, it was other student-athletes and other students at Rice. Itconfirmed the reason why I chose Rice in the first place - these are peoplewith good heads on their shoulders. They're wise, caring, special people. Whenyou think of a typical jock, we're not that. We're smart, deep, more than justschool and sports. We're the highest of both levels you can get in thosefields. I love that Rice truly appreciates the full person.
Twenty years from now, when I think back to mytime at Rice, I will first think of women's basketball but not in terms ofplaying but of my teammates and coaches, the experiences we shared, our pregamedance sessions, our team bonfires, finally getting [sophomore Gabby] Ozoude todunk, traveling on the road and finishing with a win WBI championship. The court wasn't where I got my fulfillment. I think God put meon the sidelines so I could fully appreciate that.
Maybe I couldn't finish the beep test but mysupport system - my friends, teammates, coaches and God - helped me get grit,joy, strength. It was a blessing in disguise. It was not how I planned it butlooking back now, I would have it no other way.