Any sport involving physical impact with an object or person can result in a violent jarring, or any shift or shock in your brain. The shift or shock in your brain after impact can result in a concussion. With a concussion comes many short term and long term effects. Coming back from such a severe injury is a process and requires several different factors.

      For athletes around the world, a concussion is a serious setback. It decreases playing time and can be difficult to bounce back from depending on severity. For many athletes the bounce back is entirely dependent on how much they want to return, if it’s safe for them and the damage returning can do.

     Senior Izzi Strand and varsity volleyball player has had two concussions in the past and continues to play, but regardless of her decision to keep playing, she understands the severity of concussions and the long term effects.

     “Concussions are very serious,” Strand said “Some people take it way too lightly, there are always risks when coming back.”

     Any damage to your brain is severe and the healing process is extremely vital to the wellbeing of a person given the fact that the human brain enables the way we think, move and feel. 

     After her injury, Strand spent a period of time learning to get back on her feet emotionally, mentally and physically and still believes that even then it’s never truly the same.

“I’ve never fully healed,” Strand said. “I don’t even remember my 8th grade and freshman year to be honest.”

  In spite of her shortcomings, Strand insisted on returning to volleyball- but not without a struggle. Her recovery period was a constant uphill battle

“It was really hard to come back from this but I never thought about quitting volleyball,” Strand said. “I worked so hard every single day to get better, volleyball is my life, telling me to quit is like telling me to stop breathing”

Even though Strand made the conscious decision to come back, at the same time she believes that it’s important to understand and weigh the risks.

“When coming back from a concussion there are two things you should consider” Strand said “How much do you love the sport and if it’s worth it.”

Brain injuries are never to be taken lightly, experts advise and will advise you to proceed with caution. Due to first hand experience, Strand strongly advocates taking it slow and debating the importance and impact of athletics has in your life now and later.

“Some people can have serious brain injuries if they continue to play,” Strand said. So make sure you ask yourself if it’s worth it.”