When I found out I was selected as a Victory Scholar I was very relieved and happy! I finally knew where my future was headed after graduation and I knew I’d be part of such a unique program. Like most graduating seniors, I was pretty stressed about what was next for me. I knew I wanted to keep playing basketball in some form or another—whether it was through Sport Changes Life (SCL) or playing the “traditional” overseas route, I wasn’t sure. I thought and prayed long and hard about the direction my life would go. I talked to plenty of my friends, coaches, and mentors at Saint Joe’s, who helped me gather my thoughts with their helpful opinions. My assistant coach, Susan Moran (who is an absolute legend in Irish basketball, by the way), ultimately convinced me that SCL would be an awesome experience for me. Being from Ireland, she knew many of the SCL folks and (of course) sold me on living, playing, and serving in Ireland for a year. I also conversed with a former teammate of mine, Shelby Smith, who was a scholar three years ago. She helped me along with Emily Leer, whom I played against in college and was a scholar last year. Needless to say, my support system and connections were so instrumental. So once I found out I was officially in, the excitement and anticipation burst at the seams. I feel so lucky to be a part of this one-of-a-kind organization!
