Beyond the Track: Rosie Robinson
10/23/2019
Rosie Robinson, a senior at St. Cecilia Academy and hurdler for Precision Track Club, is facing her fears of losing control and coping with her new normal. She was diagnosed with cancer on Friday, August 9, six days before the start of her senior year.
“You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you react and what you make of a situation. That is how I face it,” declared Rosie Robinson.
The senior at St. Cecilia Academy and hurdler for Precision Track Club, is facing her fears of losing control and coping with her new normal. She was diagnosed with cancer on Friday, August 9, six days before the start of her senior year.
“I had a biopsy, and when they told me, I was like ‘what?’ That is crazy. I have never broken a bone. I have been healthy my entire live and have been blessed with that... It has taken awhile to process, but in the initial moment, you don’t realize what is going to change. Sometimes I forget that I have cancer. Sometimes a little thing reminds me and it is like oh,” laughed Robinson.
Prior to racing the in 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Games, Robinson ran track for three years at the Academy. She specializes in the 100m hurdles, 200m and the pentathlon, finding joy in pushing herself to a faster time each race.
“I think that it is fun to put everything into a workout. It is hard while doing it, but you feel good afterwards,” said Robinson.
In July, Robinson, under Precision Track Club, qualified for her first AAU Junior Olympic Games in Greensboro, North Carolina. She remembers it being a really cool experience, but didn’t get the result that she wanted.
The Friday before the AAU Junior Olympic Games, she realized that her cheek was slightly swollen. “My teeth kind of hurt, but my cheek was a little bit bigger than normal. That was the biggest difference,” said Robinson. They visited the emergency room to be sure, and the doctor advised them that it was probably an abscessed tooth.
Knowing her event was scheduled that following Wednesday, her family decided to hold off on oral surgery, because it would be nearly impossible to run after the procedure.
Robinson was only able to run in her semifinal heat, finishing 63rd overall.
Back at home in Nashville, she received the news that she had a cancerous tumor in her jaw. “It is weird to put it into words; I am not angry about it per se,” said Robinson. “I don’t know. I have a big family so I have a big support system. They have made it really easy and have been very supportive.”
Robinson did not let the news affect her. She kept on living.
“My motivation is that I am only going to be 17 once. This is my senior year. I want to do what I enjoy, and what I would have done,” stated Robinson.
She is still very active in Cross Country, choosing to manage the team this year instead of putting her body through the three mile runs. She also participated in the spirit week powder puff game, scoring the winning touchdown for the seniors. Basketball season is just around the corner, and Robinson hopes to have a chance to play.
She visits her track coach Bryan Picklesimer, almost every day, and he has been extremely supportive through everything. Both Coach Picklesimer and Coach Teresa Marchetti at the Academy have been amazing supporters for Robinson. She continues to be a ray of sunshine for those in her life.
“Rosie's health has reminded me to slow down and be caring, to take the time to love others,” said Coach Jan Pippin of Precision Track Club. “She has reminded me that the most important thing and most rewarding thing is when we serve. You just never know whose life you may change.”
Robinson will not let this defeat her. She actually feels that it has been easier than she expected. No one really knows what to expect when facing cancer, but she attributes the ease of the journey to those around her.
“Everyone has just been so understanding, and the more normal I am treated, the better that I feel,” said Robinson.
She is hoping to someday run track in college either in state, at Tennessee or at Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina.
When asked about what words of encouragement Robinson would give to others in her situation, she immediately stated, “I would say you have to keep on living. When I first got diagnosed I was just like wow, my life is going to stop. All my friends’ lives are just going to keep on going, and that is not true. I am so happy that I have realized it now because my life is still going. I am still having amazing opportunities. Keep on living. Don’t stop.”
The senior at St. Cecilia Academy and hurdler for Precision Track Club, is facing her fears of losing control and coping with her new normal. She was diagnosed with cancer on Friday, August 9, six days before the start of her senior year.
“I had a biopsy, and when they told me, I was like ‘what?’ That is crazy. I have never broken a bone. I have been healthy my entire live and have been blessed with that... It has taken awhile to process, but in the initial moment, you don’t realize what is going to change. Sometimes I forget that I have cancer. Sometimes a little thing reminds me and it is like oh,” laughed Robinson.
Prior to racing the in 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Games, Robinson ran track for three years at the Academy. She specializes in the 100m hurdles, 200m and the pentathlon, finding joy in pushing herself to a faster time each race.
“I think that it is fun to put everything into a workout. It is hard while doing it, but you feel good afterwards,” said Robinson.
In July, Robinson, under Precision Track Club, qualified for her first AAU Junior Olympic Games in Greensboro, North Carolina. She remembers it being a really cool experience, but didn’t get the result that she wanted.
The Friday before the AAU Junior Olympic Games, she realized that her cheek was slightly swollen. “My teeth kind of hurt, but my cheek was a little bit bigger than normal. That was the biggest difference,” said Robinson. They visited the emergency room to be sure, and the doctor advised them that it was probably an abscessed tooth.
Knowing her event was scheduled that following Wednesday, her family decided to hold off on oral surgery, because it would be nearly impossible to run after the procedure.
Robinson was only able to run in her semifinal heat, finishing 63rd overall.
Back at home in Nashville, she received the news that she had a cancerous tumor in her jaw. “It is weird to put it into words; I am not angry about it per se,” said Robinson. “I don’t know. I have a big family so I have a big support system. They have made it really easy and have been very supportive.”
Robinson did not let the news affect her. She kept on living.
“My motivation is that I am only going to be 17 once. This is my senior year. I want to do what I enjoy, and what I would have done,” stated Robinson.
She is still very active in Cross Country, choosing to manage the team this year instead of putting her body through the three mile runs. She also participated in the spirit week powder puff game, scoring the winning touchdown for the seniors. Basketball season is just around the corner, and Robinson hopes to have a chance to play.
She visits her track coach Bryan Picklesimer, almost every day, and he has been extremely supportive through everything. Both Coach Picklesimer and Coach Teresa Marchetti at the Academy have been amazing supporters for Robinson. She continues to be a ray of sunshine for those in her life.
“Rosie's health has reminded me to slow down and be caring, to take the time to love others,” said Coach Jan Pippin of Precision Track Club. “She has reminded me that the most important thing and most rewarding thing is when we serve. You just never know whose life you may change.”
Robinson will not let this defeat her. She actually feels that it has been easier than she expected. No one really knows what to expect when facing cancer, but she attributes the ease of the journey to those around her.
“Everyone has just been so understanding, and the more normal I am treated, the better that I feel,” said Robinson.
She is hoping to someday run track in college either in state, at Tennessee or at Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina.
When asked about what words of encouragement Robinson would give to others in her situation, she immediately stated, “I would say you have to keep on living. When I first got diagnosed I was just like wow, my life is going to stop. All my friends’ lives are just going to keep on going, and that is not true. I am so happy that I have realized it now because my life is still going. I am still having amazing opportunities. Keep on living. Don’t stop.”
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