Athletics

Knowing Who I Am

N Our Voice by Ethan Piper

Scott Bruhn

It’s important for me to share my story because I want to know people.

And I’m of the belief that you can’t really get to know people unless you know yourself.

For whatever reason, I’ve always been pretty comfortable in my own skin and accepting who I am as a person.

A lot of that credit goes to my parents, who not only kept my siblings and I grounded growing up, but instilled in us the belief that we each have a higher purpose.

Outside of faith and science, which are two focal points in my life that I’ll get to shortly, one of my purposes is connecting with people and seeing them for who they are.

That mindset has guided me through every high and low in my journey as a student-athlete playing football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Because guess what?

My worst day could be another person’s best day. None of us have any idea what the person next to us is going through.

That’s why when I had the honor of recently accepting Nebraska’s Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Award, it was such a tremendous privilege for me because I know I’m much more than a student or a football player.

I’m someone who’s trying to make the world a better place, one day at a time.

Science and faith

I’ve always been a science guy.

I love the beauty of how it brings our world together and answers questions, and I even love the questions it doesn’t answer.

In addition to science being an integral part of my life, my faith has also been paramount.

Science and faith.

To some, maybe even many, that may seem contradicting, right?

I’ve never looked at it that way.

Science tells you not to believe in God, but my Catholic faith and upbringing has told me otherwise.

I’ll share a quick story with you to illustrate that.

I’ve dealt with numerous injuries and surgeries in my time at Nebraska.

Welcome to being a lineman in the Big Ten.

But this one specific injury to my leg was bad – potentially losing my leg bad.

The doctor explained the way I got hit, it could’ve shredded an artery, which would cause internal bleeding and lead to some dire consequences, including amputation.

I should’ve been freaking out and losing my mind.

Instead, I remember a calming presence about myself that can only be explained by a higher power. God was with me in that moment – I truly believe that.

That’s not to say I didn’t have some dark times. I certainly had moments of doubt and uncertainty about my future, but I kept the faith and I trusted in God’s plan for my life.

I 100% respect everybody’s various opinions on faith, but for me personally, I wouldn’t have been able to get through all my injuries and setbacks without my faith.

That’s why I praise God through the good and bad times because I know he’s right there with me every step of the way in my journey.

Making the best of it

My dad was a science teacher, so that’s another reason why I took to science at such an early age. I wanted to grow up and be just like him.

While my dad loved teaching science, I’m fairly confident he never taught class in a wheelchair or in crutches, and sadly, the same can’t be said for his son.

Before I get into this story, I first want to mention that being in a wheelchair just sucks. I was in one for two months due to my leg injury, and I couldn’t put on my own clothes or even shower by myself.

It was a defeating feeling.

My heart goes out to anyone out there who’s confined to a wheelchair – on a temporary or permanent basis – because I saw firsthand how difficult that can be.

That being said, I’ve always tried to make the best of things.

During that time, my mom always reminded me that my leg is a long ways away from where my heart and brain are.

Sure, my leg may be busted up, but my heart and brain work just fine, and they can still make a difference in this world.

So, you better believe when I was doing my practicum at Lincoln Southeast, I was wheeling around the classroom and school doing the best I could and impacting these kids’ lives.

And this is the part I always crack up at. When I got upgraded to crutches, I was crutching and hopping around the school about as gracefully as you can imagine.

Can you picture an offensive lineman trying to teach Biology class to a bunch of high school students in a wheelchair and crutches? I wish you all could’ve been there to see it because it’s something I’m going to laugh about for the rest of my life.

I’m sure some of those kids thought I was the craziest student-teacher they ever had, and they’re probably right if I’m being honest, but I wasn’t going to let a nasty injury prevent me from fulfilling my dreams off the football field.

No matter the adversity or obstacles in my way, I’ve never let that stop me from pursuing my passions in life.

A platform to inspire change

Going back to the Student-Athlete Award, I’m humbled beyond belief to win in.

Of all the student-athletes Nebraska could choose, they chose me?

Man, it’s a blessing that isn’t possible without God and my Lord and Savior in Jesus Christ.

It also makes me reflect on the opportunity Nebraska has provided for me. I feel like people get distracted by the college experience of having a social life and where the big party scene is at on a Saturday night.

And that’s all fine and well. I’m all for people having a great time, but that’s all surface-level stuff for me.

I’m a kid from Norfolk, Nebraska, and this university allowed me to live my dreams of playing football for the Huskers.

That scarlet and cream jersey means everything to me!

But truthfully, it’s what this university has given to me off the field that means even more.

Even when I was injured, I was still a Husker football player. I had a platform, and there came a point when I knew I was wasting that platform if I wasn’t making a difference in other people’s lives.

One of my biggest pet peeves in this world is people not recognizing each other.

No one gets noticed less than homeless people, so I made a conscious effort to help change that.

You see them everywhere, so I just started going up to them and simply having a conversation.

How are you doing?

Do you want to talk?

Are you hungry?

Can I buy you some food?

Nothing made me happier and more gratified than the people that took me up on that offer and I was able to get them some food and we could talk for a while.

I don’t know the exact number, but I probably did this a couple dozen times and it’s still something I do today because it makes me feel good knowing I’m making a positive impact.

If you’re busy, you don’t even need to have a lengthy conversation or take them out for dinner. Just a simple wave and acknowledging their existence as human beings with real problems like the rest of us goes a long way, you know?

With my numerous injuries, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the man I want to be and the change I want to see in this world, so I’m just incredibly grateful to Nebraska for giving me the platform, confidence and belief in myself to be that change.

Helping others see themselves

I recently accepted a position at Columbus Lakeview to teach science and coach football, and, man, I can’t tell you how fired up I am.

Again, I’m just extremely indebted to Nebraska and everything I learned in Lincoln during my time here. I know I only played for Coach Rhule for a season, but I have so much appreciation and respect for that man, and I’m ecstatic about the direction he has the program going in.

As for me, in the months and years ahead in my career as a teacher and coach, I want to positively impact as many students’ lives as I can. We’re going to learn, grow and most importantly, have all sorts of fun along the way.

Through the ups and downs and trials and tribulations in my life, I can emphatically say I know who I am, and I’m comfortable with the person I see in the mirror every day.

As a teacher, coach, leader, role model and man of faith, I can't wait to help others feel the same way.