Sideline Stories: Jackie Luckhardt

Sports have been an important part of my life since I was eight years old, and I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to engage in a variety of sports: basketball, soccer, track, and lacrosse. However, basketball has always had my heart and basketball, especially, has played a significant role in shaping me into the person I am today. The game of basketball has taught me countless lessons. Through competition and practice, I have learned to push myself beyond my perceived limits, to work hard on and off of the court to be a leader and earn the privilege of playing. It has taught me how to process the inevitable failures and turn each one into an opportunity to grow and learn. Over the course of my playing career, I have had numerous coaches that have helped develop me as an individual and these coaches are professionals that I try to emulate as a veteran member of my team and as I move forward towards my chosen career path. The passion and competitive nature of basketball has driven my passion for my professional career. As I progress towards completing my undergraduate degree, I hope to use the many valuable lessons I have gained as a student-athlete as a future Athletic Trainer and Coach. And I hope that I can be the type of role model and influence on future athletes that my coaches have been to me.

My participation in athletics has also taught me to persevere and overcome adversity. During my sophomore season of college basketball, I incurred a season-ending injury to my ACL. As upset as I was at first about the loss of my playing season, I realized that I could reframe my situation – that while I could not control the circumstances of my injury, I could control my mindset. During that season, rather than feel sorry for myself, I took it as an opportunity to watch and learn from the sidelines and my understanding and awareness of the game grew because of it. As ironic as it is, my injury helped make me a better player and teammate. I observed and learned how to read the game, and how to be coach on the floor. Overall my communication and leadership skills improved, and I was able to bring those back to competitive play once I returned from injury. For all that basketball and sports have given me, it has gone far beyond competition. Sport has brought mentors, challenges, highs, lows and some of the greatest friends and teammates into my life. I am forever grateful for my ability to participate in athletics.