Fall 2024 Schwartz Injury Law Perseverance Scholarship Winner

Allison Dean

A 4th-year student at Utah State University, Allison’s story of overcoming a devastating back injury is nothing short of inspiring. Allison is the epitome of everything our scholarship stands for, which is why we are delighted to award her our scholarship for the Fall 2024 semester.

Read Allison’s Story:

When I was just 14 years old, my life took an unexpected and extremely difficult turn. As an incredibly active kid who had grown up playing multiple sports year-round, I lived for the competitive rush and camaraderie of athletics. However, that all came crashing down when I suffered a devastating injury - I broke my back. In an instant, everything I loved doing had to come to a halt as I faced a long and arduous recovery process. Little did I know then just how grueling yet meaningful that journey would be, and how it would ultimately shape my mindset and character in ways that will serve me well as I pursue higher education and start my own business one day.

In the months following the injury, even the most basic daily activities were uncomfortable and challenging ordeals. Due to a fracture in my back, I had to wear a rigid back brace for 8 long months, allowing the bones time to heal properly. On top of that, I was also dealing with two herniated disks that caused persistent pain and limited mobility. The road to recovery involved intense, often excruciating sessions of physical therapy multiple times per week. It took incredible patience, discipline and an unwavering determination to keep pushing through the difficult rehabilitation exercises and gradual strengthening process.

While my friends were out playing the sports we all grew up loving, I was struggling just to build back basic functionality. Instead of scoring wins on the field, my "wins" were being able to bend over to tie my shoes. There were many times I wanted to give up, plagued by doubts if I would ever recapture the active lifestyle that previously defined me. However, thoughts of rejoining my teammates and competing again pushed me to keep going, putting in the hard work each day in physical therapy. My motivation was fueled by an intense burning desire to overcome this setback and prove I could still achieve greatness.

Slowly but surely, my persistence paid off in ways I could have never imagined at my lowest points. After months of tedious and difficult rehabilitation, I had finally progressed enough to rejoin my swim team. Not only did I make it back into the pool, but I performed at a high enough level to be a key contributor for our state championship winning team my senior year. Even more impressively, I placed 3rd overall in both of my individual events and team relays at the state championship meet against Utah’s best swimmers. This accomplishment was a true full-circle moment - just a few years earlier I struggled just to walk, and now I was standing on prestigious podiums with medals around my neck. It was the ultimate proof that I could indeed overcome even the most daunting obstacles through dedication, hard work, and sheer force of will.

To this day, nearly a decade later, I still feel the lingering impacts of those herniated disks which can make certain activities uncomfortable or painful. However, I've learned to push forward and not let these lasting effects deter me from going after my goals. In fact, being reminded of what I overcame as a 14-year-old kid provides daily motivation to tackle new challenges head-on with the same vigorous spirit. Just as I fought through intense pain and limitations in physical therapy to eventually return to swimming glory, I know I can overcome any obstacle to complete my education and ultimately complete my biggest goal - open my own successful business one day.

This experience was about much more than athletic achievement. It fundamentally shaped my mindset to embody the traits of perseverance, hard work, discipline and an unwavering refusal to ever give up when faced with adversity. These lessons will undoubtedly prove vital as I work toward earning my degree while also balancing work and other commitments that attempt to divert my ambition. Thanks to what I overcame at just 14 years old, I now approach future challenges with confidence, mental toughness and determination that I have what it takes to be victorious, no matter how difficult the road may seem at times. This ability to overcome is one of my greatest strengths