Briella Novello '20 Recruiting Profile

    I joined the track and field team at Becton High School my freshman year. I initially joined the team with an incentive to stay in shape during the off-season of cheerleading and at the time I had no notion of the vast impact track would have on my life. I was fun-loving and very outgoing so picking up a new sport as a freshman was not out of my comfort zone.  My sophomore year everything changed. I would struggle to stay awake, struggle to stand without my knees giving in, and struggle to laugh without the feeling of my heart collapsing.  Something was terribly wrong and I no longer had control over my body. After months of my family and I searching for an answer and holding on to hope, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy.  I was put on medication and just knowing that the monster that took over me had a name gave me a burst of hope; however, I still did not feel like myself.  The medicine I was on slowly made me gain weight, made my face break out and become pale, and made me feel insecure and useless.  This was when my sophomore year track season started. Practice was the only place I didn't feel weak and it gave me a reason to get out of bed every morning. Throwing was one of the only thing I could do where I felt I had complete control over my body. I have a very strong family and they helped to keep me positive throughout this. Towards the end of the season, my mom found a doctor in the Bronx that specialized in narcolepsy and was able to give me my life back. Just waking up every morning and going to sleep every night seemed so unheard of at one point that I am now so thankful for every sunrise and sunset.

    My junior year of high school felt like a new beginning. I was once again resilient and confident.  I have always been driven in my academics and athletics and it was so relieving to finally be able to work towards my full potential. I grew devoted to redeeming myself and became so passionate about the fulfillment of growth. Overcoming this obstacle helped me grow as an individual by giving me tenacity and inspiring me to work hard every day towards my goals.  I ended my junior with a PR of 34 feet in shotput and a PR of 86.1 in discus.  Although the spring track season is over, I am going to be working with a private coach on throwing and exercising with a trainer during the off-season. I also plan on competing in meets during the off-season and improving before my senior year. I want to continue my athletic career in college and proceed to excel in these events. I plan on majoring in psychology and have an interesting in pursuing a career in sports psychology.