I was studying for my last final at Gettysburg College in the Musselman Library when I got an email from Sport Changes Life. I had been awaiting this very email for the past few days. However, I seriously considered waiting until after my exam that afternoon to open it. I was anxious to find out if my dream for the past two years would be reached. Unable to resist, I opened the message; “Dear Jessica, I am delighted to inform you…” you can never go wrong with that! I got it! The feeling was surreal! Throughout the application process I explained to my friends and family what Sport Changes Life was all about. I told them that they were an organization that used sport to inspire youth, in all aspects of their lives, by instilling them with self-confidence and hope for a positive future. In addition, Victory Scholars would be getting their masters and playing basketball in Ireland. The immediate response from everyone I told was, “That just sounds too good to be true”.
College reinforced my desire to give back to others and become involved in community outreach. Since the moment I heard about Sport Changes Life, in my junior year of college, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for as my next chapter in life. I imagined all the opportunities that were to come! I was shocked. Having never been able to study abroad, mostly because of my conflicting basketball schedule, it was awesome to think that basketball was now bringing me across seas! I cannot wait to get started, meet new people, embrace a new culture, and make a difference in the world!
