My Journey as a College Basketball Player
My experience as a college athlete was everything I expected and more. I did things I never thought possible and faced challenges I couldn’t have imagined. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was choosing to spend my four years at Vanderbilt. It was a tremendous experience that helped develop me as a player and, more importantly, as a person.
I learned to contribute positively in any setting, whether it’s a classroom, a basketball court, a Bible study, or during community volunteer work. Being a college athlete is an honor and a privilege. It’s a responsibility that I didn’t realize at first, but soon I saw how many people looked up to me and respected me.
This became even more evident when I started sharing my life on social media. I received messages from younger girls saying how much they loved my content and asking me to keep posting, and that’s when I realized the impact I could have. I’m not only influencing those I can see but also those I can’t, and that’s a powerful feeling.
My Experience as the Co-President of the AO Executive Committee
Being part of Athletes.org’s first executive committee was a special honor. There are so many college athletes deserving of a spot like this, so when I was asked, I was super excited. I was a senior on the Executive Committee, and my time there coincided with the introduction of NIL. It was amazing to witness the transformation from when we were freshmen to now.
Being able to contribute my perspective and share what I’ve learned from my university and friends at other schools was an incredible experience.
One of my favorite moments as an AO member was attending the Policy Summit. I didn’t know what to expect, but I learned so much in just two or three days. It was a fantastic opportunity to speak with lawmakers and advocate for our interests, especially as a woman and person of color, where our voices are often underrepresented.
I’m grateful for that experience, and I know it won’t be the last time I have to advocate for myself. AO has empowered me to use my voice for issues that pertain to me, even when my voice isn’t being considered. For future members, have the confidence to say yes to this opportunity, even if you don’t know everything.
I didn’t know everything about decisions, CBAs, and NIL regulations, but I didn’t let that intimidate me. I took the opportunity to learn and share what I learned with my team and the university.
My Impact at AO & College Athletics
The impact I hope to leave behind as a college athlete is to embrace whatever role you’ve been given and make it your own.
For me, what grounded me in my last couple of years of school was sharing my personality online. It brought back some joy when I wasn’t getting what I wanted on the court. It gave me something else to do for the program and the community; to be a positive asset to the team, even if it wasn’t in the way I initially thought it would be.
For younger girls who want to be in this position, I always tell them that it takes a specific level of sacrifice. It’s going to be really difficult. Some people might have more talent or accessibility, but everyone at this level had to sacrifice something. Some people more than others.
I tell them they have to sell out, put aside anything that might be more important than their goals and dreams. It might stink, but it’s necessary. In high school and middle school, people didn’t understand why I was practicing instead of going to prom or missing a concert because of a tournament. But now, they look at me and understand why I made those sacrifices.
Advice to My Younger Self
If I could advise my younger self, it would be to be confident in the person I am and in the way I’ve prepared.
I struggled with confidence growing up, feeling undeserving of the blessings and talent God gave me. But I’m capable of so much more than I imagined, and realizing that earlier would have made my experience easier. However, I learned a lot from it, and now I can hopefully encourage others who lack confidence.
Next Steps
The next steps for me are pursuing a master’s in marketing at Vanderbilt and continuing to create content. I enjoy it, and it gives me a sense of purpose to entertain people, make them smile, and give them something to work for. I also want to share my faith and see where it takes me.
