Sarah Goody

In 2021, I was involved in a surfing accident that led to my first concussion, caused by a collision with an empty kayak and my surfboard. Since then, I’ve experienced five concussions and continue to navigate the realities of post-concussion syndrome and chronic migraines. These experiences have been deeply debilitating and isolating, but they’ve also reshaped how I see myself, my purpose, and my relationships.

Today, as a student at the University of California, Berkeley, I’ve realized how widespread concussions are among young adults. Coming to college, I hoped to leave my history of head injuries behind. But almost immediately, I noticed signs of a concussion epidemic on campus. Whether it was a classmate arriving at lecture in sunglasses with a doctor’s note, overhearing someone in the dining hall mention a recent injury, or witnessing a peer hit their head at a crowded fraternity party, it became clear that head injuries were everywhere.

Perhaps I was more attuned to it, having lived through it myself, but I couldn’t have predicted how many people would reach out to me. Friends began texting me: “I think I have a concussion, what do I do?” At a picnic with my five new roommates, I learned two of them were recovering from recent head injuries.

Being an 18-year-old navigating independence for the first time is difficult enough. Doing it while managing a brain injury adds another layer of challenge. Yet, in this hardship, I found connection. It was both terrifying and comforting to realize I wasn’t alone. Once I started speaking openly about my experiences, I became a resource for others. People around me began to ask for advice, share their own stories, and lean on each other for support.

I’ve learned that I don’t have full control over what happens to me, but I am capable of persisting. I’ve learned to exist, to ask for help, and to offer it. And I’ve come to realize that there’s a whole community of young people quietly navigating the same journey. If you are struggling with a concussion or brain injury, know this: you are not alone.