Valuing our experiences is something I think we struggle with while we are young because we are always in a rush. I remember there were many times while I was at Monmouth that I was just so excited to complete my degree and live the “adult life”. Mind you, I had no clue what that life was, but I just longed for it. Very rarely did I take the time to really appreciate all aspects of my college life, which included playing the sport I loved. So I learned the hard way with that mindset because after graduating a year ago, I slowly began to miss my college experience, especially basketball. During that year, I found myself lost in what I wanted to do and I constantly doubted my abilities and myself. Fortunately, my head coach from Monmouth reminded me about the opportunity at Sport Changes Life and encouraged me to apply. I was extremely nervous because I had been out of school for a year; therefore I had not played organized basketball in a while. However, I knew it was something I had to do in order to step outside of my comfort zone and to be a part of something impactful. Ultimately, in turn, I hoped it would help me with my personal growth. So the day that I received the confirmation email from Aimee was one of the happiest days of my life because it helped me reaffirm myself. Now that I have been in Ireland for about two weeks, I know that this decision will be one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made, just as long as I take hold of the opportunities here. I am making an effort to soak in every inch of this new environment so that I am constantly reminded of its value. I am grateful to be here and to be able give back to a community that will help me grow as a person. Thank you to the Rory Foundation and Sport Changes Life for giving young people like me this opportunity to find ourselves.
