So a couple months ago my assistant coach from GBC reached out to me and asked if she can interview me for my alumni’s magazine. She asked me a lot of questions. Questions about my victory scholarship, my upbringing on the sport of basketball, and so many more. But one question she asked me that still has me thinking is “What is your advice to Freshman Marisa?” That question really had me thinking. I have made so many mistakes like any other person in this world so there was so much that came to my mind. A lot of ‘don’t do this’, and ‘don’t be friends with so and so’, and ‘don’t don’t don’t’. But then once I really started thinking about this question she didn’t want to know about what not to do rather what to do! What could I have told myself in order to grow as person!
My first thought was about basketball. I said to her “I would tell freshman Marisa to do everything like it’s the last time. Time flies by so fast and you must live in the moment. Go hard every play and shoot your shot!” My college basketball experience was amazing! But looking back I feel as if there was so much more I could have done to help my team! I was so comfortable with everyone else being better then me. I would rather so someone else shine then myself on the court which sounds very unselfish but in reality was very selfish. I was so scared to fail that I would rather just not take the risk. I could have helped my team so much more and I wish I realized that then! I am glad I was able to spread my knowledge of the game to my teammates an that my last two years I was able to be a great captain to my teammates!
The next part of my statement had to do with myself and how I could grow as a person. I said “But mostly love yourself more and take care of you! Believe in yourself and know your worth!” I wish I knew this as an 18 year old girl. I was the person who just wanted to please everyone around her! I do not like letting people down and I would rather see others happy before myself. I doubted myself a lot and I never thought I was ever going to do anything important. But here I am today Studying Abroad in Ireland and using the sport I LOVE to change lives! I am so glad I know all of this now because life is so precious and I want to experience it to the best of my ability!
I am so thankful that my assistant coach Jill Conroy reached out to me for this because it helped me a lot and really got me thinking!