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I had the amazing opportunity to visit my old stomping grounds, alma mater, and meet with the critical people who played a major role in my maturation process, provided support, and guided me to become the best person I could possibly be at the time I walked across the stage to receive my college diploma from Michigan State University. I expressed to these leaders, administrators, and, now, colleagues that by the end of my college journey and enduring the most challenging obstacle I had ever faced, I was forced to quickly acquire qualities that I had been lacking. Prior to that experience, I had beenRead More →

Thunder Thighs are for Tomboys

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I have been told that even as a baby, I always found a ball to kick around the house. However, I would say that I started playing soccer when I was three years old. At the time, my brother was five years old, and he was just beginning organized soccer involving team practices and games. As a typical younger sibling, I was dragged along to his activities. It was apparent that soccer was going to be the sport I would grow with, as even at an early age I possessed qualities that pointed in that direction. When it was my turn to officially begin my soccerRead More →

2015 World Cup Champions!

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As I watched the World Cup final match so intently last night, I found myself reminiscing about my past personal soccer experiences. I was a fan last night. A fan of the sport. A fan of the inspiring women on the twenty-three player roster. A fan of the United States of America. But, a fan, finally. Lori Chalupny, a current member of the U.S. Women’s National Team and 2015 World Cup champion, was my roommate in Bradenton, Florida at the age of 16. I admired Lori then, and I see her as a hero now. She was my teammate, friend, and roommate that week in Florida,Read More →

Weight Just Washed Away...Overnight

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It felt like an overnight body transformation. Literally, one night. I stepped in the shower and washed all the weight off my body. It did not matter if I was a freshman or senior, the first day of preseason was the most stressful and anxiety inducing day of the year. It revolved around mandatory meetings, physical examinations performed by the sports medicine staff, and ended with the dreadful, horrible, beyond nerve-racking fitness test on the track. It was my sophomore year, though. With a year of experience under my belt, I should have been more confident, used to the routine, and understanding of expectations. ItRead More →

Army of Athletes

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It may seem awfully unforeseeable, but I would like to compare a female athlete entering college sports to a female soldier entering the army. Though two extremely different undertakings, both have immense responsibilities, all while adjusting to a heightened level of physical and emotional demands in new environments. A freshman athlete is attempting to prove herself to her teammates, coaches, and opponents, and competing against veterans who have been in the program for three years already. The same goes for soldiers who are introduced to an unfamiliar type of training, and exposed to such intense pressure in the army. Both situations share a greater commonality, and that is the prevalence ofRead More →

Learned Behaviors that led to Extreme Obsessions

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It was a beautiful Monday afternoon in East Lansing, MI. I was a month away from completing my freshman year of college. As I was headed back to my dorm after my final class of the day, I smiled thinking how great  it was I became an expert on navigating my way through the huge campus of Michigan State. After trekking down the path of the Red Cedar river, I thought I would stop, say hello, and visit with my coaches as I was coming up to Jenison Field House. I took in a breath of fresh spring air, and appreciated it was our oneRead More →

Food and Fuel

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There are many contributing factors that led me to the development of a frightful, obsessive disorder, labeled anorexia. One, in particular, that stands out in my mind as an athlete is the drive to be the best. As a competitor, I was willing to fight, battle, and push further and further. When I sat down at the end of my freshman year, at my final individual meeting in the spring of 2003, I stared nervously at all three coaches. I sat quietly, anxiously waited to hear their feedback. There was nothing more intimidating than sitting in an office with three coaches to discuss your role in the program. The meeting’sRead More →

Dreams

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From the time I was a little girl, I always dreamed of playing soccer at the highest level. Of course, playing for the United States Women’s National Team in the Olympics or World Cup is a dream for most young athletes. Other than that, the absence of a women’s professional soccer league during my childhood made college soccer the pinnacle of success. So from the very beginning, I aspired to one day receive a college scholarship to play soccer and represent a prominant university. At the age of 13, my middle school English teacher assigned us a task one day. She had each student write a letter addressed to him/herself. The assignmentRead More →