From Athlete to Artist:

How a Track Injury Sparked My Creative Journey

If you’ve ever looked at my art and thought I’ve been painting since I could hold a brush, let me tell you...that’s not the case at all.

My journey into the art world began in the most unexpected place: a long jump pit and a broken leg.

I didn’t come from a family of artists.

In fact, no one in my family was particularly artistic.

However, I did come from a family of athletes, and track and field was my entire world.

I was an elite athlete, a three-time state champion, an All American, national competitor, full athletic scholarship recipient, and someone who lived and breathed the discipline of being the best.

Then everything changed.

During my junior year of high school, while competing in the Long Jump with all of the determination to break the record... I took one last jump that I didn’t need to take (it was a selfish decision, i have to admit)...and in that moment, I learned lessons about humility and purpose that would shape the rest of my life.

That jump led to a severe leg injury and put a sudden halt to my track career.

But it also opened a door I never expected: the door to art.

I was rushed to the hospital and had emegency surgery, a metal rod was placed inside of my femur to repair the break. This led to a long road to recovery.

While recovering, I found myself placed in the art room simply because it was the safest place for me to be (my leg was about three times the normal size).

I wasn’t an artist then. I had no experience, no training, and no real interest.

But with the encouragement of a teacher who saw me struggling mentally and emotionally...

I started creating.

I discovered the healing power of making something out of nothing, and that creative spark grew into a passion I couldn’t ignore.

What people don’t always know is that my story didn’t end with that injury. I had to learn those lessons the hard way through months of pain, recovery, and determination. I worked harder than I ever had before to get back on the track.

And when I did, I came back stronger. I went on to win the state championship the very next year in the long jump, and earned a full athletic scholarship to Purdue University, where I later became a Big Ten Champion in the same event.

Stina Biting her Gold Medal

Stina Aleah Wins State Championship

Stina Aleah Wins Big Ten Championships

That drive to return to what I knew, and to fight my way back, became the foundation of how I approach everything in life.

It’s the same level of discipline, focus, and relentless pursuit of excellence that I later poured into learning how to paint. I want to be elite in this new world, too!

Those lessons from the track molded me into who I am today and became the foundation of the art and creations you see before you.

Looking back, I see that injury as a divine intervention, God's redirection and one that aligned me with my true purpose. What felt like a setback was actually setting me up for something greater.

Fast forward to today, and I’m a professional artist who found her calling not despite a setback, but because of one. This journey from athlete to artist taught me resilience, humility, and the incredible strength that comes from starting over.

And it’s that same strength and dedication that I pour into every piece I create.

My story is a story of transformation and of finding a new purpose when the old one fell away...turning a painful moment into a beautiful, creative life.

---

If you’re in a season that feels uncertain, like everything you’ve known is shifting, take a deep breath and remember this: redirection isn’t rejection. Sometimes life has to fall apart to make space for what’s meant for you.

You might not see it yet, but there’s purpose in the pause. Growth doesn’t always look like progress and can often look like stillness, healing, and rebuilding.

Keep showing up for yourself. Keep believing that what’s next will make sense one day.

Because when the dust settles, you’ll look back and realize that what felt like an ending was actually the beginning of something far greater than you could have planned.

Stina