Corynn Kjederquist

Corynn Kjederquist – Colorado
Nomination by Brian Kjederquist
Photography by Five Parks Photography
Issue 84 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Corynn Kjederquist, she is inspiring because of the unimaginable things she has been through that I think inspires all teens to keep going even if challenges get in their way. In 2021 she had spinal fusion surgery from T2-L4. A scar that lay from the bottom of her neck to her tailbone. She’s a super high athlete and the road to recovery was not the best. But she worked it all out. Not even 8 weeks after having major back surgery she was back on that soccer field playing again. Her dedication and perseverance is why she is inspiring.
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Photography by Five Parks Photography
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Tell us about your soccer career.
I started playing when I was 4. My dad coached me up until I was 11. Right now I am getting offers from colleges to further my soccer career later in life. Soccer is a big part of my life and I'm very blessed I get to continue my journey further down the road.

What position do you play and why does it suit you?
I play center mid. This position suits me because I am a very strong and dominant person in the midfield who doesn't give up no matter what. I distribute the ball extremely well and create those winning opportunities for my team. I'm a great asset in the midfield and someone who my team relies on for chances.

What is a favorite accomplishment in soccer?
Being captain and being able to play at the national/regional level in Colorado. Being captain is one of my best accomplishments. It shows my leadership as a teammate and my overall dedication towards my team and the sport paid off. I'm very proud of myself and I'm glad my teammates and my coach saw that in me. Also playing at the national/regional level. Over the past year I have significantly improved my overall technique and growth towards my sport. A year ago I was playing at the bottom level at my age group. I've worked very hard over the summer and put in the extra work to where now I'm playing for the top level in my club as well as the national/regional league which is ECNL-RL. I'm very proud of myself because I made it happen. I'm super passionate about this sport and I will do whatever it takes to be my best at it every single day.

What is a favorite memory with your soccer team?
Winning our first tournament together. Something I will never forget. It was a pre-season tournament and we all have never played with each other. Team chemistry wasn't there and we were still getting used to names and the style of play everyone was used to. Mind you we also had a brand new coach as well. We ended up making it to the finals after being very very successful in our other games. We worked our butts off and ended up winning through a PK shootout. Best feeling ever. Especially before our regular season league even started!

Tell us about the events leading up to your need for a spinal fusion surgery.
It all started when I was born. I was born with idiopathic scoliosis. All my life, since kindergarten, I was full time wearing a back brace to help correct the curve as I was growing. I slept with it, wore it all day. I would only take it off when I had to shower, or for an after school/activity break which typically lasted 2-3 hours before it was time to put it back on. I couldn't sit on the floor like the rest of my classmates. It was super hard going through that at a young age. It worked through elementary school, but once I hit 8th grade, it stopped. My curve got worse and the brace wasn't doing anything. It was time for surgery. I was promised no surgery at the start, but no one expected it to get like that. April 5, 2021 was the surgery date.

What was the recovery like?
Recovery was hard, I have to admit. My goal was to get back on that soccer field and that's all I was thinking about. Sleeping was rough and I had to adjust to the way I was laying down. The worst of all was sitting. I could not sit down and eat a meal without being in excruciating pain. We compromised and my dad fed me while walking around the house just so I could get some food in my system. But walking was the key to full recovery so I had to push through no matter what it took. My favorite thing was taking showers. The heat of the water would really help soothe the pain I had. I took at least 3-4 showers a day. I kept up on everything and walked to where I was back on that soccer field after undergoing major back surgery 8 weeks later. Greatest accomplishment of my life.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
My nomination gave the general base of what I went through. Adding onto it, after I recovered, I then spoke to young kids my age or below about to undergo the same surgery. Talking about my experience to them uplifted me and the families I was talking to. Engaging with them and letting them know that it will be okay is what I think is inspiring and also a healing process of my own. I think talking about it helped me express the way I was feeling through those hard times.

What is the most important thing you tell these kids about to undergo the same surgery?
That you are going to be okay. The kids are so scared to undergo surgery and are scared of the pain after and the road to recovery. I tell them that it is going to be all okay. You will have your rough days no doubt, recovery is most definitely not perfect. You will have your best days too. Where you experience little pain, or more movement you weren't able to do yesterday. I tell them not to be angry at themselves for failing but take it as a lesson. It will get better and it does take time, but it will all be okay.

What else would you like to talk about?
My dedication towards my sport. I think the willingness to fight for something I love even when things get hard is inspiring by itself. Many kids would have given up after the pain and suffering of recovery, but that is not my case. I pushed through and if I could share that even more with kids around me that are struggling and fighting to get back to the things they love I most definitely would.

What was your recovery like on a day to day basis?
It was super difficult for sure. I would wake up and take my meds. Shower first before I eat so I could get the muscles loose before I started to walk. I would then walk around my house while eating because sitting was still an issue throughout my recovery. I would then have to walk all the way up my neighborhood as my PT for the day. After that I would rest and recover for the remainder of the day, in between eating and taking showers until it was time for bed.

What do you wish others knew about the recovery phase?
How strong you really have to be. I'm not talking about being physically, mentally strong. It takes a huge toll on your mind taking pills all the time, the pain, the frustration and it hurts mentally and causes even more physical pain. People may see it as just physical since it is surgery and recovery of the body, but they never think about the mental side of it.

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
I feel passionate about my sport. The love I have for it and how it helps me focus on myself in many ways. It helps me with confidence and being proud of myself at something which I think all teens need to feel at some point in their lives.

How has soccer helped shape you as a person?
I think my leadership responsibility I hold on my team has definitely shaped me into the person I am. It has taught me to persevere and keep going no matter what gets in my way if its a challenge brought beyond the team or if it's a personal challenge for myself.

How did you find your photographer? What was your experience like? What did you love most?
Funny story! My mom works at an orthodontist and her kids go to see my mom! My mom saw her work and found interest and showed me! Also one of my old teammates also had her take senior photos as well and we just fell in love with the way they turned out! My experience was great! She is such a kind hearted lady and her work is incredible! I love that she always asks for my ideas and what I would like my photos to look like! I think that's very cool and important.

Why do you want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine?
To tell a story. I think that if my story were to be put out there, it would help a lot of teens/kids in many different ways. Teens and kids these days can't really relate to anyone with anything anymore, and I think seeing a role model or seeing someone that is going through similar stuff as them is really life changing and could benefit them in many ways. I want to be that person who had an impact on someone based on my own challenges. That is why I would like to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine.

If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
The soccer field for sure. Or in my room painting. I've told you enough about soccer but not my passion for painting. I love to watercolor paint and I'm pretty good at it. It relaxes me when I have a tough day, or if the weather is bad and I cannot train for soccer. My room is full of the paintings I have done. Typically I paint sea animals. My favorite thing I have done so far is a stingray!

What is up next for you that you are super excited about?
College. I'm super excited to branch out of high school and engage in college activities. I love the environment and the feel of it. The girls on the soccer team are so nice and I'm super excited for that to come up later in my life!

Look for Corynn in issue 84 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
*Interviews are not edited after received from our inspiring teens - what you read is who they genuinely are!

click here for more information on issue 84

click here to nominate an inspiring teen

Images taken by parents