One Young Teen Overcomes Adversity and Finds Passion Through Music
Sasha Bush
Ashland Beacon
Hardships are impossible to avoid. We have all experienced them at one point or another in our lives. For most, those hardships are temporary and life can return to its previously set course once we overcome whatever has been thrown at us. What do you do when you are thrown such an obstacle that it seems insurmountable to overcome? No one knows about overcoming unexpected obstacles better than one local teen. Steven Brock Kouns, a 17-year-old sophomore at Ashland Blazer High School, had always had a strong attraction and talent for sports growing up. Kouns stated that he had first begun playing sports at the age of four.
As Kouns got older, he developed a real talent for the game of basketball and football. It was nothing out of the ordinary to find Kouns hitting the courts for a little one-on-one or playing football for his school team. Kouns simply loved and enjoyed everything about both games. Unfortunately, during Kouns’ eighth-grade year, he dislocated his shoulder during a basketball game. After his shoulder was put back into place, Kouns continued to play despite his shoulder continually popping out of place throughout the football season. “All of those dislocations led to a torn labrum which was fixed in my first surgery. I was cleared to play again, and not long after I was back in the hospital for another surgery. After my second surgery, they told me they wouldn’t recommend me playing anymore,” shared Kouns. Kouns had three surgeries in total.
Imagine being a 14-year-old boy and being told that you could no longer do the things that you enjoyed the most. At just 14 years old, Kouns’ reality came crashing down around him as the realization that his sports career was over. But unlike most people who would let such an obstacle keep them down, Kouns instead picked himself back up and set his sights on the next big thing. “After my surgeries, I was just lying around the house not being able to do anything. I had been listening to music and watching people play guitar a lot, and it made me want to learn to play,” stated Kouns. Once Kouns had his mind made up, he acquired a guitar and picked up on how to play rather quickly. From there, his newfound talent turned into a newfound passion. Now almost four years later, Kouns is quite the guitar enthusiast and even plays guitar for his church praise team. Kouns shared “Playing guitar…It’s just so relaxing for me, and it’s an easy way to get things off your mind. Plus, my dad has always had a guitar, and I always kind of thought it’d be cool to learn it but was never really interested in trying to play until I listened to the song ‘Heading South’ by Zach Bryan.”
Kouns credits being able to get through what he considers one of the toughest times of his life to being able to find new things that he liked doing such as hanging out with friends, fishing, and of course playing the guitar. Adam and Bethany Kouns, Brock’s parents shared, “It was very difficult watching him go through each surgery. Many prayers got him through. God has seen Brock through each surgery and through the pain and recovery of each one. And, God knew exactly what the outcome would be and already had a plan. He has used his talent on guitar to play on the praise team at church. We are so impressed and so proud of how Brock has taught himself to play guitar and how much of a talent he has. He is a great kid with much talent and a great work ethic. He’s always ready to help when anyone needs something. It’s enjoyable and such a blessing to see how much he enjoys music and the hobbies he’s found during such a challenging time.” Kouns recommends that if anyone finds themselves in a similar situation that the best thing they can do is get out and continue to do some of the things that they like, and find new hobbies to help take their mind off the situation.
