Amanda Bell THE LAST 15 MINUTES

It was a hot summer day in July, and only a few weeks remained before the start of Amanda Bell’s senior year. She was playing soccer in a college showcase in San Diego, and there were only about 15 minutes left of the game. Tired, she turned in just the wrong way, feeling and hearing a pop behind her knee. At first, Bell didn’t think much of it, but as the days went on, it became harder for her to walk. “This is when I knew something was really wrong,” she said. She explained that tearing one’s acl is “something most female athletes fear.” She underwent surgery in the last week of August. “I was really bummed because this meant I couldn’t enjoy a senior night or senior season with my childhood friend Caitlyn,” she said. However, her friends Blake Coursey and Olivia Igou came to visit and support Bell after her surgery. Bell had to miss a few football games, but those that she could go to were “a lot more enjoyable.” Bell’s recovery will be about a year long. Her injury has taught her “to never take a soccer game for granted, [to] always play like it’s your last game.” She said, “It’s made me realize also how thankful I am for my family and friends who helped along the way.”