Mya D.
Photography by Ally Szabo
If you’re reading this, I want you to know that your past experiences do not have to define you.
On February 22, 2023, my life changed in an instant. At 6:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, I was hit head-on by a drunk driver. I was devastated—it was the same day I had finally gotten off crutches after breaking my tibia, and I was in the middle of transferring college. My life already felt chaotic, and this accident only added to the stress and anxiety I had been carrying.
I suffered a severe concussion and had to go to the hospital. In the days and weeks that followed, the full extent of my injuries became clear. I had five herniated discs, lost feeling in my right hand, and experienced daily migraines so severe that I couldn’t focus. The physical pain was relentless, but the emotional toll was even greater. I was angry—angry at the man who chose to drink and drive, angry at myself for not somehow preventing it, and angry at the world for letting this happen. I kept asking, Why me? Why do bad things happen to good people? That question haunted me, and for a long time, I felt trapped in that mindset.
Despite my pain and frustration, life didn’t stop. I still had to apply to colleges and decide where to go. I had no motivation and was simply going through the motions. But when I chose Villanova, something shifted. Starting my sophomore year as a transfer student, knowing very few people, was intimidating. Yet, I decided to take a leap of faith and put myself out there—one last effort to change my mental state.
Transitioning to a new school was scary, and my first semester was challenging. But the people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made at Villanova have transformed my experience. For the first time in what felt like forever, I began to feel hope again. I realized that my struggles—while still very real—did not have to define me. I could move forward with my life, even as I navigated the pain and challenges from my injuries. Villanova became my fresh start, a place where I could heal emotionally and rediscover myself.
Happiness and reassurance felt foreign at first, almost undeserved, but slowly they became familiar again. While I am still dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath of the accident, I’ve come to appreciate the growth it has forced me to undergo. As much as I wish it never happened, I can’t ignore the good that has come from it. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I am so grateful to Villanova for giving me the chance to find myself again.
If you’re reading this, I want you to know that I see you. I sympathize deeply with the struggles you may be facing because of your past, but I also want you to know that you don’t have to let those struggles define your future. You are stronger than you realize, and you are so loved—even if it doesn’t always feel that way.
Mya D., Villanova University
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