Hope After Injury
A message from a former college athlete to all the aspiring ones
This guest article comes to you from Lizzie Larkins, Client Relations Specialist & recruitment expert at Throughline Guidance. Lizzie was a D1 nordic skier at The University of Vermont and an Assistant Nordic Coach at Montana State University. She’s passionate about athletes’ wellbeing and their identity beyond sport.
Last week, a group of female athletes surprised many by appealing the NCAA’s historic $2.8 billion settlement, arguing that the proposed settlement violates Title IX and unfairly compensates men. In making their case for gender equity, they also reminded us of something bigger: the importance of athletes using their voices—not just for themselves, but for the future of the game. Their actions reflect a growing shift. Athletes today are starting to see themselves not just as performers, but as leaders, advocates, and people capable of real impact.
One thing I know from my time as a D1 athlete and D1 coach: the plan is always changing. Flexibility is everything. In today’s sports culture, there’s so much pressure to specialize, be perfect, and perform that athletic identity can become all-consuming—especially at a young age. But I want to share two stories that speak to a deeper kind of resilience, one that outlasts stats and titles.
The first is about Candace Parker. You’ve probably heard her name—two Olympic gold medals, MVPs, championships, the works. But what many people don’t know is that when she was 17, just before championship season, she tore every tendon in her knee after a collision. She was devastated. As she sat in the thick of it—disappointment, frustration, unrealized dreams—her dad gave her an unexpected piece of advice: start eating with your left hand. Why? Because she couldn’t rely on her dominant side anymore. If the ball came to her left, she had to be ready. Even while sidelined, she leaned into what would help her grow. She got creative, became ambidextrous, and kept investing in her development. She didn't just come back—she played into her forties and became one of the most decorated players in history.
So that begs the question: What can you do right now to grow as an athlete, even if you’re not in the game? The answer isn’t on Instagram. It’s not more reps or highlight reels. It’s often something quieter—mental strength, physical recovery, building habits that support your long-term goals.
Another story: When I was coaching, we recruited an athlete who was just coming back from a major injury. She had taken a year off, slowly regaining strength, all while going through the recruiting process. We first met her at ski races in Alaska, and what stood out wasn’t her stats or race results—it was her energy. Her belief in herself was unshakeable. We offered her a spot, and I had the privilege of coaching her for two years. Watching her come back, bit by bit, was incredible. Her resilience became her superpower. She brought that strength to every hard workout and high-pressure moment. By junior year, she was our top performer at NCAAs—not just because of talent, but because of how she showed up for herself and her team.
So here’s another question worth asking: Can you look beyond this week, this season, this setback—and trust in your long arc of potential? Can you build a belief in yourself that doesn't waver, even when the scoreboard doesn’t tell the story you want?
Both of these stories are about injury, yes—but more importantly, they’re about perspective. As coaches, parents, and mentors, we have a chance to help young athletes see themselves as whole people—not just as performers. Let’s raise a generation that knows who they are beyond the game. Because in the end, that’s what really lasts.
Give The High School Senior in Your Life Something More Than AI To Help Them Plan Their Future: Real Humans
After an incredible retreat in Inverness, CA, Lizzie Larkins and I holed ourselves up in the St. Columba retreat house to get to work on building custom roadmaps for our clients.
Not many people see what happens behind the scenes at Throughline Guidance. While we guide all kinds of young adults all along their "throughline," this is the time of year when we're all about our high school juniors who are moving up! We spend hours meticulously putting all of the details of their college admission plan together so they don't miss a thing.
✔️ Admissions probability at their favorite colleges
✔️ Custom deadlines so they submit before everyone else
✔️ Special requirements for honors programs and scholarships, including "hidden" essays and deadlines
✔️ Cool programs we think are great fits
✔️ A master essay plan with tips on how to repurpose certain content so our students can focus their energy on what matters most
It's basically project management 😅
It's also why our students secured over $7 million in scholarships last year. 🤑
If you have a rising senior in your life who could use this kind of love and attention, reach out. Summer is "go time," and we cap our case load so we can do our best work!
throughlineguidance.com