The Official Student News Source of HSEHS

HSENews

The Official Student News Source of HSEHS

HSENews

The Official Student News Source of HSEHS

HSENews

SSN: Allison Ellis Spotlight

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An Unexpected Strength

Senior Allison Ellis uses condition as motivation

 

It’s early in the morning, and a canvas of orange and red swirls covers the sky overlooking the empty fields. Morning dew is littered on the grass and girls who just got out of bed quietly close their car doors and put on their cleats. There is a silent anticipation and nervousness lingering in the air. It’s mid-July and the most dreaded week of the summer for girls’ soccer- conditioning week.

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To say she is prepared is an understatement. Senior Allison Ellis has been running the workout the team is about to embark on almost every day for the weeks leading up to this. It was not a love of running that had her getting up bright and early to struggle with sprints each morning, but necessity.

The starting Varsity goalie struggled with severe asthma for much of her childhood leading up to high school. With her life revolving around soccer, Ellis was not about to let this get in the way of her playing the sport she could not live without. Unlike some players who could run the tests and pass without much preparation, Ellis had no other option but run it over and over again until she got it right.

“Allison has never let her asthma be an issue,” Bob Ellis, Allison’s dad, said. Ellis has been Allison’s club coach since she was four years old. “She refused to let anyone know she had it and never blamed it for anything. She knew it meant she might have to work harder or longer, but that was part of the deal and she was ok with it.”

After seeing a doctor at Riley Children’s Hospital years ago, who she still continues to see in order to keep her asthma from regressing, Ellis’ condition began to improve dramatically. She could now take her inhaler once and make it through an entire conditioning session, practice or game.

“I’m a goalie, so I don’t really run that much if at all,” Ellis said. “But my asthma was so bad as a child, I couldn’t even do that. But now that I’ve seen my doctor, he’s been able to help me toward where I can do that, and I can run on my own outside without having an asthma attack every five seconds.”

Without the doctors at Riley, Ellis would not be where she is now. She started Varsity this past year as a captain and will be graduating Summa Cum Laude. Ellis has excelled on and off the field because of her road bump, and she would not have it any other way. Her struggles have made her a better player but have also improved her confidence that allows her to leave a mark on her teammates.

Junior Shelby Schecter is one of the other Varsity goalies who has learned from Ellis’ example.

“Allison is always the person who wants everyone to succeed,” Schecter said. “She is always cheering on people when we are struggling, and she directs our team in a game. Allison makes me a better goalie because she always pushes me to go a step further than what’s expected.”

Riley’s impact on Ellis’ life has encouraged her to also give back to the hospital. After being a member of Riley Dance Marathon for three years, she spent her Senior year as the Director of Corporate Sponsorships where she was responsible for finding businesses to support the cause and ask for food donations for the dance marathon that took place Mar. 23. Her biggest achievement was entering “The Comma Club” reserved for those who have reached the $1,000 mark on their fundraising page.

“Even though [the reason] I was [at Riley] wasn’t to the magnitude of why other kids are there, it is still nice to know they are in really good hands,” Ellis said. “I love to give back to them and try to make their life the best life they can have. You really have no idea how much it effects other people, and every dollar helps.”

Asthma is a constraint that would normally keep someone from being athletic. In Ellis’ case, asthma became a strength that would push her toward achieving anything she set her mind to.

Story by Raegan Walsh

 

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