As a kid, I was constantly drawn to sports like soccer, lacrosse, and volleyball.
I’d say this was largely influenced by my siblings, but a lot of it was also just my own competitive nature, you know?
I’ve always been a competitive person, so sports just came naturally to me.
But what people might not know is that I almost walked away from it all.
At the age of 14, I was ready to quit sports altogether, and I would’ve if it weren’t for my family.
My family pushed me to keep going, and they saw a level of potential in me that I didn’t see in myself.
And that was the push I needed to continue my athletic journey through high school and into college.
I don’t think I’d be where I am today without that support, and for that, I’m forever grateful.
Transitioning Coasts
I was born and raised in California, so when I got recruited by Seton Hall, it was a huge culture shock moving to New Jersey.
The pace of life was different, the weather was different, the food was different, and it was a lot to take in.
But I embraced it as an opportunity to try something new and gain new experiences.
I made a commitment to not only myself but my family to get out of California and experience what the world had to offer. And being able to travel to and from New York City on a whim is something I could never do living in California.
So, while it was a big transition, I embraced it and looked forward to the journey that awaited me.
Helping Others
Speaking of journey, it was during my high school days that I started a social media account with my sister and mom to help athletes with their branding and social media presence.
The goal was to ensure that athletes present themselves in the best possible way to colleges and coaches.
We wanted to help athletes clean up their social media presence and avoid any potential red flags.
I know this might sound trivial, but as someone who was going through the recruiting process myself, I understood the importance of having a clean social media slate.
We wanted to give athletes the best chance to succeed and present themselves in a positive light.
Resilience Through Injury
My journey at Seton Hall has been a rollercoaster ride, to say the least.
I’ve had my fair share of injuries, from concussions to a torn MCL, and it’s been tough to stay motivated at times.
But I credit my support system, including my teammates, coaches, and family, for helping me push through those tough times.
I’m not gonna lie — there were moments when I questioned if it was all worth it, but I knew I had the strength within me to come back stronger.
And with each injury, I’ve learned valuable lessons and grown as a person and player.
I wouldn’t trade my time at Seton Hall for anything, and I’m grateful for the opportunities and challenges that have come my way.
Appreciating the Support
One of the things I appreciate most about Seton Hall and Athletes.org is the support and resources they provide to college athletes.
From offering second medical opinions to providing legal assistance, they understand the challenges we face both on and off the field.
It’s reassuring to know that we have a support system in place to help us navigate the ups and downs of being a college athlete.
And as I continue my journey at Seton Hall, I’m excited to see where it takes me and how I can continue to grow both on and off the court.
It’s been a wild ride so far, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.