Patient Story Type: Sports Medicine

Reflections on the First Quarter at UCLA: Lessons, Challenges, and Growth

As I reflect on the first quarter of my UCLA journey, a few thoughts come to mind. I have always had a connection to UCLA, as both of my parents attended the university, and my father played on the water polo team when he was a student here. Being able to continue their legacy has been a dream come true for me. UCLA and the water polo team have given me an incredibly valuable opportunity to pursue academic and athletic excellence at the highest level, granting me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for personal growth. It has been incredible to play the sport that I love while also receiving an incredible education. To win a national championship for UCLA (its 124th!) has been more than a dream come true, and I look forward to achieving similar success in the seasons to come.

Before this fall season, our team engaged in seemingly endless hours of training, both in the United States, as well as in Europe. Our incredible Europe trip offered me the opportunity to gain experience from competition against better players, as well as the time to connect with my new teammates. I am grateful to my coaches and teammates for welcoming me so quickly during that time period. After returning from Europe, our team trained consistently and with the sole focus of winning a national championship.

The rigorous training that we endured this season has taught me lessons of resilience and mental toughness, which I believe will translate to many other aspects of my life after college. Through my experiences this quarter, I have learned that I can do hard things, and that hard work is critical to achieving excellence. Our team’s consistent mentality of getting the most out of our training and out of every game we played through the summer months and fall season was what we needed to do to ultimately attain our goal for the season. Winning a National Championship has been one of, if not the greatest success in my life, and its feeling is unmatched. This experience has taught me what one can achieve when they put their all into something, no matter how daunting the test may seem.

Lastly, I have reflected on how grateful I am to Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children, my surgeon Dr. Anthony Scaduto, and the entire care team for everything they have done for me following my scoliosis diagnosis. Without them and the incredible care I received, I likely would not be where I am today. Just a few years ago, I was unsure as to the capacity that I would play the sport I love again. Thanks to Dr. Scaduto and the LuskinOIC team, I have been able to rise to the pinnacle of the sport of water polo in the United States, a dream I have had for many years.

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For one young gymnast, happiness comes from doing what she loves—earning straight A’s, winning medals, and making her moms proud. Tarra’s family is tightly knit, celebrating every achievement side by side. But when a knee injury suddenly put her gymnastics future in question, everything came to a halt. Faced with uncertainty, the family came together to carefully consider the next steps in her medical care.

During a pivotal doctor’s visit, the young athlete’s fear was met with unexpected comfort. Her physician, recognizing the worry in her eyes, shared that she, too, had once been a gymnast. That simple connection created an immediate sense of trust and understanding—one athlete to another.

The doctor made Tarra a heartfelt promise: once her patient was healthy and back on the mat, they would go outside, turn cartwheels together, and celebrate her recovery. It was more than just encouragement—it was a reminder that healing is possible, and that behind every white coat is someone who understands the power of hope and shared experience.

Archery is Aria’s stadium to persevere and thrive. Aria was gifted a bow and arrow at an early age and her abilities quickly became clear, but soon her skills outgrew her equipment. As her family couldn’t keep up with the cost to upgrade Aria’s gear, they were grateful to use borrowed equipment. Some of the equipment was a bit heavier than she was ready for, resulting in serious injuries to both shoulders.

Aria’s injuries showed up at an awful time. She was about to shoot in the World Youth Team Trials, vying for a spot on the team to compete in Ireland, when the pain in her shoulders became too much. Aria had to lower her draw weight to beginner levels, and her entire season was a loss as she shifted her focus to rehabilitation and strength training.

Aria visited the outstanding rehab center at LuskinOIC where she began physical therapy with her sports medicine provider, Dr. Goldman. Under the treatment of a dedicated team of therapists led by Christine Caron, Aria was given the tools she needed to heal and prevent future injuries. Since her treatment at LuskinOIC, Aria has gotten stronger and now trains in a more purposeful, mature way. Aria has even found the strength to help earn money to pay for the costs of becoming a competitor by walking dogs, which brings her a lot of joy.