I've always been a part of sports and athletics since I was little. I plan to never leave the world of sports. Athletes are the most inspiring and powerful people in the world. Some athletes are specifically inspiring, whether they're fighting for something they believe in, have a strong will power to be the best they can be, or they get through something amazing. No matter what, this is a list of athletes we can all learn from.

1. Breanna Stewart

Not only has she won four championships with the best college basketball team and won most outstanding player at each championship, but she was the first overall pick in the first round of the WNBA draft, picked by the Seattle Storm. And on top of that, she is an avid supporter of equal pay for women in sports. At the ESPYs, she won best female athlete and spoke about equal pay and fame in her acceptance speech.

"Now that I am in the WNBA, playing with other amazing female athletes, I'm trying to understand why we, as professional female athletes, don't receive anywhere near the fame. This has to change."

2. Eric Berry

Eric Berry is a professional football player who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was picked fifth overall in the 2010 NFL draft. He most recently won the Best Comeback Athlete at the ESPYs. Berry was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2014. After nine months of battling the cancer, he was cleared to play again. That's right, he was back on the field after getting diagnosed only NINE months ago. He took the field on Sept. 13, 2015, and he totally dominated. He made it to the pro bowl, the same season he returned. He showed that he can dominate cancer and dominate the field.

Stephen Curry is a personal favorite of mine. He inspires young athletes with his humility and kind heart. He also has such a big dedication to basketball. He also inspires young athletes because he understands that you don't have to play for a big school to be recognized for your talent, which a lot of young athletes nowadays don't understand. For high school, he went to a small Christian school called Charlotte Christian School, which has its biggest graduation at 106 students. He then went to play for Davidson for college basketball. He brought his team to three NCAA tournaments, which doesn't happen very often there. He showed that you can be a star without having all the big schools to get you there.

Derrick Rose has overcome one of the biggest injuries for a basketball player. In his 2010-2011 season, he was the NBA's Most Valuable Player, but in the 2011-2012, he tore his ACL. He got his team all the way to the playoffs and tore his ACL in the first round game. Which meant not only would he miss the rest of the playoffs, but the entire next season. An ACL tear is detrimental to a player. They can be out for up to eight or nine months. Although Rose was cleared to play in January 2013, he got no playing time. A lot of fans were disappointed and many making jokes about him never coming back, but he finally did. And when he did, he tore his meniscus. Which also required surgery and much time off. After that, NO ONE thought Rose would come back, but he did. He played in the Bulls opening game in the 2014-2015 season, and he's still on the court today. He inspires many athletes who get serious injuries by letting them know that they will come back.

5. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson was never a player in my time, but even today, his story is still inspiring people. Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers and won the championship and MVP in his rookie year, which is almost unheard of. But in 1991, he found out he had HIV. He immediately retired. He was invited to play in the NBA all-star game in 1992, and did so with grace, as he won the all-star MVP. He decided he wanted to come back to play, but people didn't like that idea so many protested against him. So finally, in 1996, he decided that he was going to come back and play, no matter what anyone said. At the end of that season, he retired, for real this time. But he showed many that his love for basketball was greater than any disease holding him down.

6. Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm was born with a club foot. She had to wear corrective shoes for a long time. Who would've ever thought she would become one of the greatest soccer players to live? Not only did she get past her club foot to play a sport with only feet, but she was the youngest player on the US National Team ever, at 15 years old. She played in three different Olympic teams after that and three FIFA world cups. She showed that one small problem she was born with was never going to hold her back. Anybody with any birth defect would be truly inspired by her will to play soccer. She also created the Mia Hamm Foundation, which helps families and patients get through the rough patches of marrow or blood transplants. She made this foundation dedicated to her brother who passed away from complications to his anemia. She also fights for women in sports and wants to inspire little girls to get out and play soccer.

Many athletes are inspiring day after day after day. The list of inspiring athletes could go on and on. These athletes have put their work into their sport and their love for the game. But they also are inspiring for other reasons, whether it be a social cause, a disease or an injury.