It wasn't supposed to be this way for Whitney Watts.

Watts had high expectations for her first year at George Brown College and it wasn't just in the classroom.

A multi-sport athlete, the 20-year old planned on playing basketball for the Huskies when she wasn't committed to academics in the Child and Youth Worker Program.

While Watts is doing well in her studies, the same can't be said right now about sports - and particularly hoops.

Watts is recuperating from dislocating two ribs while playing a game of touch football back in October. Her doctor told her to put sports on hold for what she says could be as much as five months allowing for the injury to heal.

I was the quarterback and over extended a throw and knew something was wrong, recalled the graduate of East York Collegiate who had played in a women's touch football league at the time.

I had difficulty breathing, there was pain and found out the rib joints were sprained.

Watts did try to play some basketball in several pre-season games with the Huskies, but even the few minutes added to her pain and she knew her role would be supporting the team as a spectator.

A former two-time high school Athlete of the Year, once as a junior and the other time as a senior in her graduating year, Watts who had played sports for 15 years was frustrated but aware there was nothing I could do but wait until things got back to normal.

Injuries aren't new to Watts, who admits to being a bit superstitious and was given the No. 13 jersey number at George Brown.

In Grade 11, the point guard tore a ligament in her right knee during a senior basketball game at East York. A three-time MVP in the sport, she required re-constructive surgery and wears a special brace on her right knee.

The pain is still there, but getting better, she said. The plan is to get rest, get healthy and return for basketball in the Fall.

After East York, Watts took a year off school, found a job and saved up money to go to College.

I was working with under-privileged children in a priority neighborhood, she said. The job grew on me. I liked what I was doing, helping young kids who appreciated it and decided this was something I wanted to do as a career.

Watts, who had worked on after-school programs for youngsters between the ages of 6 and 12, also had times with teens 13 to 18, applied to Centennial and George Brown. But some help from a co-worker who had attended George Brown led to her sticking at the College closer to her home.

While I am happy with my course at George Brown, it's also painful having to wait for everything to heal. Have to be patient and stay focused. - DG