Role model

Being a student athlete takes a lot from the person because you have busy schedules, as well as busy weekends. However, being a foreign student athlete takes even more energy. You are far away from everything that is related to you, everything around you is just different but you find a way to go forward and eventually fit in and it’s not that different anymore!! It becomes your reality.

You leave everything that you love and that you grow up with for new experiences and a better future. Sometimes you have days when you are filled with happiness because you see that all your hard work pays off. You are getting all those awards and recognition that you always vied just because the way you set your mind to it. This season, I worked hard like never before. It was all about details, small things that we never pay attention to. I set my goals high and believed I can reach every single one of them. I did even more, I was awarded the All- Conference first team,  Conference Tournament first team.  I finished the season averaging a program record of 4.30 kills and 12.37 attacks per set to go with a program record tying of 460 total kills and a program history of 1,324 total attacks … I led the WAC in kills per set (4.30), total kills (460), points per set (4.82) and total points (515.5) while ranking 10th in total digs (253) … In WAC play, I also led the conference in kills per set (4.29) and points per set (4.80) while ranking second in total kills (206), third in total points (230.5), tied for ninth in total aces (13), and 10th in total digs (112) … I was the only player in WAC to place top 10 in both kills and digs in either overall or WAC play … I bet all you see is a bunch of numbers and probably don’t even understand what kill is, but it gives you a clue as to what I am talking about. It seems like I’ve reached everything that I wanted in this past year. I put a lot of my time in making this possible. However while doing so, I’ve given up a lot of things that girls my age enjoy doing. For example, I didn’t party, I missed pretty much every birthday celebration of my friends, and I was gone almost every Wednesday until I came back on Sunday. In my free time, I was doing homework and even though it sounds kind of sad and boring, for me it was worth the sacrifice. I made my family and myself proud because I stayed focused the whole time. I made a life time memories and stories while constantly having fun with my teammates and traveling and witnessing a lot of amazing places.

You must be wondering why am I telling you this? Well a few days ago, I was at Venom and we were having a team bonding with our 18 year old. Since they are about to go to college, coach wanted us to have a short talk with them and their parents. He wanted them to realize what it is like to be a student athlete. It was three of us talking and  he wanted us to tell a little story about how we ended up here and how our daily schedule is. I was the last one speaking and they found me interesting because my story was different compared to two other girls. I started off talking where I was from and how I got here, which they found fascinating. I proceeded on telling them about my daily schedule and they all stared at me like I was a freak. I explained I do have time for friends so they wouldn’t misunderstand me or get the wrong idea. Everybody started laughing and I just stood there and wondered, why? I do, I have a lot of friends and even though I don’t go out very often and don’t party as much as people my age do; it doesn’t stop me from having friends. I explained how time management is important and helpful. Furthermore, the whole story made me think of how people don’t understand true values and how having fun means a lot of different things. I prefer making memories that will give me goose bumps every time I think about it. I would be able to revel in those feelings during upcoming crazy night and summers and will always be remembered.

You know how they say success isn’t just what you accomplish in your life, it is also what you inspire others to do. I am happy when I hear that some kids want to be like me. I remember me wanting to be like someone else and admiring some other players. Everything I do has a  purpose for my family and I, but it makes me extremely happy when I see it has purpose for others as well. I am still at the beginning of my journey and I barely started creating and writing pages of my life book. I am excited for new challenges, adventures, wins and loses as well as being proud of the huge family I have all over the world. I have those few people in each place that I go to which makes me feel safe and blessed. I am thankful for the questions those kids and parents had because it made me realize how happy I am with my life and the people that are a part of it.