My name is Ben Egan, and I am from Mediapolis, Iowa. I am currently a senior at the University of Dubuque and am pursuing a triple major in Accounting, Business, and Human Resources. My time here at UD has had plenty of great moments, as well as times that have challenged me. I am grateful for both. I went through a season-ending injury after the third game of my sophomore season, and at the time, that seemed like a major setback. Looking back on how that experience shaped me into who I am today, I can say that I have become a more resilient person and student-athlete. Physically, I was able to bounce back with the help of the strength staff here at UD. To me, it was very important to have my body feel 100% before trying to come back and I was fortunate to have great people in my corner to help make that happen. Mentally, the injury was very challenging. If you can’t overcome the mental hurdle of an injury, there is no amount of physical rehab you can do to get you back on the field playing the way you used to. Mental and Brain health are a very important and overlooked aspect of football. I think my teammates, coaches and trainers here at UD really helped me get through a tough time in my life. I was away from all my family when this injury happened, but I had a second family to help me get through it here on campus, and for that I am very grateful. Brain health is something that is emphasized here at UD and I have learned a lot about how that part of your body should be taken care of. Football has taught me that the things that seem important aren’t actually the things that matter. Everyone thinks that accolades, stats, and awards are what you will be remembered for the most. I’ve learned that how you treat people, the kind of person you are, and the example you set for others are what people remember the most. Football is a game that has brought me tremendous growth physically, but the growth that I have made as a man is what I have found to be the most valuable
