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In Her Words HOW VOLLEYBALL AND TRACK & FIELD CHANGED MY LIFE

For the past fifteen years of my life, you have sculpted me into the woman that I am today. You have taught me humility, passion, perseverance, and courage. You have provided me with opportunities in life that would not have been awarded to me otherwise. I have forged relationships with some of my most cherished companions thanks to the connections and avenues you have opened up for me throughout my life. I am so fortunate that I was exposed to you both at such a young age, because throughout my time as a child, teenager, and young adult, you were with me through it all.

To volleyball, thank you for teaching me what it means to love a sport. You were my teacher and my educator. You taught me what it meant to have grit and not be afraid to get a little roughed up. You taught me what it meant to be a competitor and how establishing a holistic goal with your teammates around you, was more powerful than any individual desire I may have alone. You taught me how to be flexible and coachable. I know how to take direction, adjust to last second adversity, and adapt for the betterment of others around me, because of you. Thanks to you, I developed a sense of belonging and acceptance that I had never felt before. My very first group of friends was established on the volleyball court, and those bonds will remain throughout my life. Thank you for teaching me that playing for the little girl in my heart was always more important than playing for stats, records and wins. You are, and always will be, my first love, volleyball.

To track and field, thank you for showing me that there is more than one way to be strong. Not only did you teach me about my body’s physical potential, but also how to establish mental strength and the ability to push through hardship and come out even stronger on the other side. Thanks to you, I strengthened connections between my family members, and I met people that I consider to be some of my closest friends. My time with you was some of the most fun I have ever had in my entire life. On the flip side, you taught me what it meant to have personal accountability and put in the hard work when no one was looking. I know how to motivate myself and push boundaries that I never knew I could before, because of you. I will forever be grateful that I decided to continue my pursuit in the ring and down the runway, because it was the best decision I have ever made in my collegiate career.

When my time on the court and the field were over, I was scared. I was scared because what is my identity without you? Who am I if I am not a volleyball player or a track and field competitor? Those questions burned into my brain as my practices became more limited throughout my senior year and I knew I had less and less time to be with you. However, as I stand here today, I am not afraid anymore. While I may not always be able to physically participate in you anymore, you both will always be with me.

Because of my time with you, I learned what it meant to be brave and stick up for my beliefs. Because of my time with you, I learned to explore different options and avenues life presented to me. Because of my time with you, I was allowed a moment to learn the parts of myself I never would have known without you. I will forever be grateful for my time with you both and will continue to expand myself thanks to all I have learned on the court and on the field. So, I am no longer scared of the question of, who am I? I am, and forever will be, an athlete, but I am also so much more than that thanks to all of the amazing lessons that you both have taught me. So, thank you, track and field. Thank you, volleyball. I love you both.

To read more letters from the NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 honorees:
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