Q&A-Coroplast Student-Athlete Feature Story
1. Are there any short-term goals you would like to accomplish in the next few months or even in the next few years?
- On the athletics side, to continue to keep improving and win a Big South Championship/go to regionals with my team. On the academic side, I want to graduate from the biology program here with high grades, get into a master's program for behavioral neuroscience, and begin to work with children with neurological developmental delays.
2. Do you find it difficult to have a social life outside of softball and how do you manage your athletic responsibilities and other outside recreational and
non-recreational activities?
- I personally don't find it difficult to have a social life outside of softball because I know how important it is for myself to have one, so I actively make sure I am leaving time in my schedule to do so. I really make sure to keep my schedule organized and not fall back on small things that can all pile up.
3. How does being an athlete make you a better person?
- Being an athlete makes me a better person because it has taught me how to deal with hardship and face adversity. I have learned that "failing" is not something that has to hurt you, rather you can learn from the experience and come out stronger.
4. What do you believe is the greatest challenge most athletes are facing today?
- I think the greatest challenge most athletes are facing today is the pressure to perform. With so many outside eyes and opinions about how we both are expected to exceed and how we should go about it, it creates a pressure to perform at the highest we can. Especially with the attention and money from NIL today, it creates just another stressor in the back of athletes minds.
5. What have you learned about teamwork from your experiences on your teams?
- I have learned the importance of communication and that it is both okay and important to lean on your teammates. Without communication, no trust can be formed, and trust is vital while playing a team sport. Leaning on your teammates also goes along with trust. I know it is okay to have an off day occasionally, because I know my teammates will pick up my slack and help me work through it.
6. What is the best piece of advice you have gained from your coaches?
- The best piece of advice I have gained from my coaches is to take every opportunity and capitalize on it. Whether on the field or off the field we have opportunities all around us, however they don't last forever. They taught me to always utilize the opportunities we're given, because even if they might not go our way, the only way to truly "fail" is by not taking advantage of them.
7. What was it about Winthrop that attracted you?
- I was attracted to the tight knit community and the homey feeling in both athletics and academics. Coming from so far away, I wanted to make sure I felt like I could make a new home for myself out here, and I have.
8. How did you become a fellow for TEAM IMPACT?
- I became a fellow for TEAM IMPACT my freshman year through our Team Impact player at the time and my senior captain who recommended me. I was interviewed, accepted, and attended their summit over the summer.
9. How did you find softball?
- My parents put me in softball when I was five years old, and I've been playing ever since. It's always been a huge part of my life, and I knew in middle school that I wanted to play in college. In high school, I worked hard to get myself seen by colleges and ultimately everything aligned perfectly with Winthrop!
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