If you asked anyone from my home town or my college I am sure they would all tell you that I was someone who was always positive and brought joy into any situation.  This is something about myself that I am very proud of.  Since I have been aboard I have been struggling to find the positive side of situations.  I am so thankful for being here and I love and appreciate everyone who is helping me out, but my homesickness has kind of taken over.  I have been battling my inner thoughts and trying my hardest to cover up my true feelings because I know what I am here for is bigger then anything I have ever done!  And I know when I finally do go home that I will regret not taking complete advantage of this experience. So everyday I wake up I remind myself of that!

I went to college about 6 hours away from home and I never really got to just go visit!  So when I first thought about being abroad for a year I never thought it would effect me this way!  But I guess its the idea that I know if I wanted to or an emergency came up it is not as easy as a 6 hour drive to get home.  I miss my family and I feel l like I am missing so much of everyones life. Thoughts like this is what leads me to being to myself at times and not really being positive about my situation.  Then once I see how out of character I am acting I get even more upset.  So it just turns into a whole downwards spiral.

So with all that being said I know I need to change somethings.  I have about 4 more months in Ireland and it’s time to start being the me that I love and that the people who love me the most know!  I want the people in my community to talk highly of my when I leave.  I know they do not think I am rude or anything of that sorts but they can tell sometimes how homesick I am.  And that upsets me because I am having an amazing time and I am so appreciative of everything they have done for me!  Especially Christine Greene and Mike Toolan! They have both been trying their hardest to make me feel more at home and it has helped me so much through out this time.

I am so grateful for being able to be apart of something so special, and I really want to show these kids in my community what it is like to look at life in a positive manner!  Yet I can not teach them that until I begin to live that way myself. I am Marisa Howard the fun loving girl from Ohio who can turn any situation into a good one and I can not wait to live a happier life and radiate positivity through out Athlone!

The holidays have come and gone as it was a nice visit back stateside and spend some quality time with family. I have got the opportunity to spend Christmas abroad for the past two years, so I hopped on the chance to head home to see them. During my first trip over to Ireland, I stayed and travelled to Barcelona during holiday break. I also spent a pleasurable Christmas down in Galway with some great friends two years prior. Last year, I spent my holidays in Thailand as it was another great adventure. Although I was away from family for the second straight year, I was privileged to spend some time with some great guys who were also over there coaching. We enjoyed a nice Christmas dinner as well. Being away from family during the holidays can be tough, but cherishing the moments you get with them makes it that much better when you are finally in their presence. Making the decision to see my family for the holidays was a great decision, as we relished the fact that we were all together again for a special time of year.

Leading up to my travels home, I had a chance to visit Galway where I got to see some old friends, teammates, coaches and players. We ended up playing the Titans and we won in overtime, taking home a big win that was severely needed. In addition, I got to enjoy one of the many Christmas markets throughout Ireland and spent a nice weekend returning to Galway. Being surrounded by some pleasant people definitely makes this transition during the times away that much easier. Getting the chance to travel through Ireland and Europe is once in a lifetime opportunity. My family and friends were continuously asking about the many stories and experiences that I was able to take advantage of while being over here. I was very eager to be able to share my many adventures with them, as the questions were non-stop during my short visit home. It was well worth it!

On arrival back to Ireland, I was right back into my coaching, training and studying routine. Right off the plane, I was into a coaching session with Northwest Basketball Academy. The following day we had a game back in Dublin, so there was a lot of travelling done during the first few days back. We took another hard-fought loss, but that’s the goal for the new year to pick up a few W’s in the second half of the year with the National League and College teams. It’s been a tough season for us, but we will be working to finish the season strong. Getting back to work coaching in the schools, running a few camps and coaching several local clubs are on the agenda for the start of the new year. With things beginning to pick up again, I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else, blissfully looking forward to the new year for sure.

While living in Ireland for the year, we have the opportunity to travel to other countries. Although it would have been an awesome experience to travel to some European countries during the holidays, I knew I could not grasp the thought of not being home. As long as I can remember, Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. I love the whole month of December and doing anything Christmas related. One of the main reasons I love the holiday season is spending time with my family and closest friends! Nothing can replace the time spent with them and to me this time is so valuable. 

I left Ireland a few days before Christmas and was able to go to Saint Peter’s (my former college) in New Jersey, and watch one of their games with my parents. It was great to catch up with some of my friends and former teammates! It was bittersweet being in the stands watching and definitely felt strange not putting on a Saint Peter’s uniform to play in the game. I spent a couple days in New Jersey and of course ate some of my favorite foods from the nearby restaurants! I couldn’t resist from getting a Jersey bagel breakfast sandwich and a big New York slice of pizza. After my stay in New Jersey, I headed to my hometown in Connecticut a few hours away.

It was great to be back home. My dog was ecstatic to see me and welcomed me the second I walked in the house. To say I missed him is an understatement! Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are always celebrated with my immediate family along with my grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I was so excited to see everybody and share my experiences of my first four months in Ireland with them! We almost had a white Christmas as there was light snow for most of the morning and afternoon of Christmas Eve. I thought I wouldn’t miss the snow but I actually did especially around Christmas time.

Christmas week I went to Norwich Free Academy (my high school) to watch one of their games. It was great to talk to a few of my former coaches at the game. It was crazy sitting in the bleachers and noticing the little changes, or how it feels like I hadn’t put on a NFA uniform in ages! I was able to catch up with a lot of my friends while home. It was nice to see everyone and just relax at home for the week. It was hard to pack my bags and leave on New Year’s Day but I was also anxious to get back to Ireland to continue basketball season, coaching, and finishing up the last semester of my master’s!

Pictured below is my dog (Benny), my brother’s girlfriend (Rachel), my brother (Nick), and my sister (Gabby).

When I left the United States, I told my family that I loved them very much, but I would be missing Christmas and New Years this year. This was my first time in Europe, and winter break was my first opportunity to travel.  So I took the chance to make it an experience that I would remember forever. And that it was. It started with a plan. I had some American friends who would be traveling to Europe for the holidays and what’s better than traveling Europe? Traveling Europe with friends. So, since November I coordinated with them to take on Czech Republic. We chose Prague, Czech Republic for a couple different reasons. Firstly, the living expenses and flight were cheap. Secondly, Czech is one of the most aesthetically pleasing places in the world. Don’t believe me? Google image of the city buildings. They also have really good food and are very festive around the holiday season. All great things for a couple friends wanting to enjoy Christmas abroad.

Getting there was a little tricky. My friend and I were on the same flight traveling from Dublin to Prague with a 3 hour layover in Amsterdam. It seemed like a pretty easy journey until we got to the airport in Dublin to check in for our first flight to find out the flight to Amsterdam had been canceled, wonderful. We scratched our heads and stood in the check in line with other distressed passengers for about an hour before speaking to a flight representative. The bad news was we had no way of making it to Prague on that same day. However, the good news was we were headed to Paris for the night with a free hotel, drinks and meals for the night and next morning and would be on the first flight to Prague out of Paris. I thought it was pretty good trade off. So, that night we flew to Paris, stayed the night in the hotel, enjoyed some free meals and prepared for our flight the next morning.  When we landed in Prague the next morning, we started an entirely new journey of getting to our Airbnb without English translations. 

Luckily for us,  the Prague transportation system from the airport to where we were staying was very straight forward and easier to understand than the New York City MTA system even though it’s in English. During our four days in Prague we were able to try a ton of different beer. (It is actually cheaper than water). We saw some of the city’s best tourist attractions like the Charles Bridge, The Old-New Synagogue, and the Museum of Communism. Honestly, the city felt like a museum itself with all the different colors and shapes of buildings. The buildings were definitely my favorite part. We enjoyed some communist style food which was delicious. We had no clue how to go about ordering for about 10 minutes, but, if you’re hungry enough you’ll eventually figure out how to eat in any restaurant.  Prague was amazing. I did not want to leave and I will definitely be returning. Here are some pictures! 

Today I made my way through Tesco, a major grocery store chain, to grab a few items just like any other food shopping trip. As I do majority of my grocery shopping at Aldi, this time I found myself often reading the signs dangling from the ceiling in order to figure out which items were placed where in the large store. While doing so, I couldn’t help but notice a young woman traveling up and down the aisles by herself with a walking stick. Here I was struggling to find some salad dressing, and yet somehow this woman was able to do it while being blind.

As we both met up in the dairy aisle, she proceeded to ask me for help finding a certain brand of Oat milk. Looking at a wall of what must’ve been thirty different brands of milk, it took me probably two minutes to find the exact one she wished to buy. She felt the various milk containers, using their shape as indicators as to where this certain Oat milk was typically placed. Eventually I was able to find it for her, only after she told me that the store was constantly putting them in different places, forcing her to constantly ask people for help. Simply amazed, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “How do you know that? …I wouldn’t even know that.”

She displayed nothing but gratitude for my help in the simple task. Upon realizing my “accent”, she asked me where I was from and proceeded to tell me about her American friend from who is now traveling country to country as a nurse. We agreed that it seems people always want to travel to wherever it is they’re currently not, as Americans often come to Ireland vice versa. Laughing, she jokingly said she feels as if she isn’t living life having not done so herself. As she was not much older than myself, my heart broke for her yet again as I realized my biggest struggle is miniscule compared to what she combats on an everyday basis.

Ireland is one of the most beautiful and colorful places I have ever seen, and adventuring through it has been one of the most amazing experiences I have had. Yet it is something this woman will never be able to witness and appreciate even as an Irish citizen. And for that I can’t help but feel a sense of guilt as well as a greater appreciation for my life. From the rolling green hills of Ireland to snow-covered mountains in Germany and turquoise Caribbean waters, my eyes have allowed me to witness so much of the vast beauty this world has to offer. But most importantly, not a day has gone by where I wake up unable to see my surroundings or simply where the milk is that I mindlessly pick up at the store.
It is so easy to take things for granted. It is so easy to focus on what needs to be improved or how situations could be better. But today reminded me to appreciate being able to food shop at ease, travel to and witness the beauty of new countries, as well as simply just see life as it is every single day. It is impossible to appreciate everything, but a reminder every now and then such as this allows me to do so. And as you’re reading this with your very own two eyes, I hope you too can do the same.

When your world moves too fast
and you lose yourself in the chaos,
introduce yourself
to each color of the sunset.
Reacquaint yourself with the earth
beneath your feet.
Thank the air that surrounds you
with every breath you take.
Find yourself in the appreciation of life.

Christy Ann Martine

Christmas is my favorite holiday, and this one definitely did not disappoint. I decided to go back home to the U.S. over Christmas to catch up with family and friends. Being over in Ireland has really made me realize how much my family and friends back home mean to me. I have an incredible support system back home, and I was very excited to tell them about Ireland and catch up with them.

I spent a lot of time eating food when I was at home. As a true Illinois native, I missed Chicago style pizza and took full advantage of all opportunities to eat pizza over break. I had to make up for 4 months with no deep dish pizza, and I think I may have come close. There were also several plates of Christmas cookies in the house, so it’s a good thing I didn’t stop working out over the break!

I got the chance to take a quick trip to Moline, Illinois to reunite with my best friends from college. We went to a minor league hockey game and witnessed a full on brawl between the two teams. Safe to say, I’m happy to be playing a sport where brawling is not a part of the culture! Other than that little trip, I spent a lot of time at home and a lot of time with family. The big Morrissey Christmas Eve party was a big hit, and all the new kids in the family had a blast when Santa came and delivered their toys.

When you see people everyday or close to it, you can start to take them for granted. Being in Ireland has taught me not to take people for granted and to cherish any time spent with family and friends. Going home and seeing my parents, brother, friends, and extended family was better than any Christmas gift I could have gotten. At the end of my trip, I was sad to leave my family again but equally excited for another semester in Ireland! Bring it on 2019!

The first half of the year flew by! It feels like I blinked and now I am halfway through my stay in Ireland! The cliché saying saying that time flies when you’re having fun is true.

I am doing my Master’s degree in exercise physiology at NUI Galway. While most scholars opted to obtain business degrees, I thought that my background in science as well as my desire to coach were more suitable for an exercise physiology program. The course load is structured so that students are only in one module at a time, and it is very different than the more classic college structure that I am used to. In addition, a grade of 70% on assignments is the equivalent of an “A” in the U.S., so that was definitely a major mental adjustment.

In the modules, I have learned extensively about the muscles, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and nutrition. In each module, I find I can apply a lot of information to my own training, and I know that I will definitely use this information in any future coaching I do. At the end of the year, each student must complete a final research project on an area of interest. Luckily for me, a professor is offering a project specifically relating to basketball and plyometric training. I am very thankful that Sport Changes Life is giving me this opportunity to grow not only as a coach and a leader, but also a student and thinker.

The Sport Changes Life Foundation has developed a reputation around the globe for positively impacting the lives of young kids across the island of Ireland. But, it is equally important to recognize how much the organization does for people in every phase of life. Don’t get me wrong- working with kids is a massive part of the Victory Scholarship Program, and the main reason I decided to apply. As an aspiring coach, I have a passion for introducing kids to the game of basketball and teaching them a few life lessons along the way. But when I arrived in Belfast, I quickly realized the diverse impact our program makes on a daily basis. One day you are getting torched in soccer (football) by a group of talented 9 year olds, the next you are losing 11-0 in FIFA to a member of the Blackmountain man’s club, and finally you make your way to a local nursing home for some Boccia. Although I have been truly touched by everyone I’ve had the pleasure of working with, one person in particular, a Boccia master named Sammy, sticks out in my mind.

In 2000, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I was four at the time and did not totally understand the significance of the diagnosis. As I grew older, my grandpa’s illness only became worse. When I reached my teens, grandpa Riopel struggled to remember much and communicate with family members. But, as Grandpa’s memory faded, his Ping-Pong skills never left him. I cherished every visit to grandpa’s house, as I knew an epic table tennis dual was inevitable. In a way, Ping Pong seemed to help Grandpa become himself again. With each game, he would become more alert, energetic, and talkative. I remember watching my dad play my grandfather around Christmas time. Instead of following the ball during each rally, I would first look at my Grandpa’s face. It was so cool to see the intense focus he had as the ball came towards him, desperate to win each point and prove he’s still the boss around the house. After a signature powerful grandpa slam, there would always be a bit of trash talk and a large smile. Then, I would look over at my dads face. There was always a giant look of admiration that overcame him as he hit the ball back and forth with my grandpa. Ping Pong, such a simple, silly thing, served as the catalyst for the father-son-grandson connection that will never leave me.

Sammy is one of the regulars at the weekly Boccia events. Within the first few sessions, it became immediately clear that his health had deteriorated over the last few years. Initially, he has difficulty understanding the game and aiming the ball on his own. But like my grandfather, he seems to regain his focus and energy throughout each session. Last week, Sammy hit the game winning shot and did it in style- getting a perfect score of 100!! Something I have never been able to do. As he realized he had won, that same huge smile my grandfather would always have overcame Sammy’s face. I started to tear up thinking about grandpa and how much happiness a simple game like Boccia brought him even on the worst of days. That smile is what makes our Boccia sessions so worth it. I can’t wait for next weeks dual with Sammy, I have a feeling he might go back to back!

Easily the most difficult aspect of the Victory Scholar Program is the time and distance spent away from home. I am so lucky to have family and friends that support me unconditionally. It was nice having the luxury of knowing that if I was struggling with something in college, my parents would hop in a car and head my way. But over in Ireland if something goes wrong… it’s a different story. That’s a huge reason why I applied to this program. Stepping out of your “safety zone” for ten months is never easy. And there are plenty of days where all I want to do is get on the next flight home. But working through those difficult times is where you really grow.

With that in mind, as the semester started to wind down I was really looking forward to the holiday break to relax, recharge the batteries, and be with my people. I spent the first part of my time off with my girlfriend, Courtney. She flew overnight on Christmas Eve to London and I surprised her at the airport. We spent Christmas Day exploring the city, which was great because she spent a semester abroad there three years ago. It was fun to see her favorite shops, restaurants and running spots, as well as how the city has changed over the last few years. My favorite part of the trip happened around 5 PM, when Courtney looked at me and said: “Sooo I’ve got a little surprise for you. We are going ice skating at the local Jewish Community Center.” At first I was super excited- I had never been ice-skating and always wanted to try… BUT, I also really like Courtney and want her to stick around for a while… Ice-skating was one of the most humbling experiences I have had. You think you’re an athlete until you fall on your face… BEFORE you even get on the ice. But hey, in the end it all worked out- Courtney spun in circles around me, I fell less than a dozen times, and for some reason she decided to continue dating me. Afterwards, though, I made sure to get my revenge. I spotted a nearby ping-pong table that was open to the public. I told Courtney that we were playing and she had no choice. I had to redeem myself. We played a quick game to 5 and I won 5-0. In hindsight, I think she let me win.

An amazing aspect of the Victory Scholar Program is how easy it is to travel Europe. Having the opportunity to explore different cities and experience new cultures is truly priceless. I set a goal to travel to France, Germany, and Prague before I graduate in May, and will be sure to keep you updated on my blog! It’s important that as Victory Scholars we take advantage of the opportunity to travel, as you never know when the next chance will come. If you want to hear more about my Christmas adventures to Edinburgh and the West Coast of Ireland, look out for Holiday Blogs Part 2 and 3 soon!

If you didn’t know already, the primary focus of the Sport Changes Life foundation is to raise the aspirations of young people across the island of Ireland, using sport as a catalyst to develop strong relationships, instill a strong work ethic and break down barriers.

While we do play a wide range of sports during each community session, our main focus is teaching the game of basketball. In Ireland, I would say hoops is 4th or 5th on the popularity list. Gaelic football, rugby, soccer, and cricket come first. Our job as scholars is to introduce the game, in hopes that it excites young kids into playing it on their own.

So how do you make kids excited about playing a new sport? Certainly you go into schools and youth clubs, teach the basic rules and strategy, and let them scrimmage for hours on end. But the Sport Changes Life foundation took it a wee step further with the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic.

The Classic, which made its debut to Belfast in 2017, is the first NCAA basketball tournament held outside North America. In its first year, 4 college teams from the states came over to battle it out in the SSE Arena. This year, that number doubled to 8, and attracted over 10,000 new basketball fans to experience the game at one of the highest levels. During their time in Belfast, each team also does a community engagement event in a primary school nearby.

I cannot begin to explain how amazing of an experience it was to be apart of this event. First, I think about the thousands of kids who were able to witness the sport I love in such a unique environment. Growing up, I remember going to watch the University of Virginia play in John Paul Jones Arena. I would always try and get to the game early so I could watch the players dunk in warmups. I remember coming home from a game and wanting nothing more than to shoot for hours in the back yard. Seeing such amazing athletes up close inspired me to become the player I am now. I know the Classic will continue to have the same effect on young kids in Belfast.

As a Victory Scholar, you are introduced to the level of work that goes into pulling off such a big event. Before the Classic took place, scholar responsibilities include advertising and marketing through social media and on the ground. I even spent countless hours in the “Elvis the Elk” suit, walking through Belfast City Centre and various local primary schools. It was also a great experience to see Marc Mulholland (Director of the Belfast Basketball Classic) and Rachel Stoops at work, making sure every part of the process was documented and published in order to spread awareness of such an incredible event.

During the event, each scholar is given a different job to ensure the Classic runs smoothly. I was fortunate to be given the role of Team Liaison for the Long Island University Blackbirds. I spent every moment with the team, from the time they woke up to lights out at night, ensuring they were comfortable and on track. It was cool to develop relationships with the players and coaches throughout the week. Oftentimes you watch a game on TV and only see the in game moments. It’s an entirely different experience and perspective when you are in practice with the group, listen to the scouting report, hear what the coach is saying during a timeout, etc. I was even able to be apart of their scout team during practice, which gave me a different look on what it takes to compete at the Division 1 level.

All in all, the Classic was a massive success. Most importantly, thousands of people were introduced to the game of basketball, kids from all backgrounds were inspired to play on their own. Secondarily, I developed a variety of skills and knowledge that will help me in whatever career path I choose next year.

From a young age, surfing has been one of my favorite past times. Growing up in rural Virginia, you kind of had to learn how to surf. It was either that or ride the tractor as your hobby. I wouldn’t say I’m very good…. but for what I lack in skill, I make up for in style and embarrassing wipeouts. As a kid,my family would take my brother and I to the “Virginia Beach Surf Camp” every summer, which often ended in sunburns and a gnarly belly-rash. But that never stopped us from “shredding” the ½ foot waves our little Virginia Beach had to offer. It instilled a love for surfing that is still very much alive in me today.

Last summer, I researched endlessly whether or not it was possible to surf in Ireland. In short, the answer is an astounding YES. There are places all over! After arriving in Belfast on my first day abroad, I had lunch with Sam Woodside, our program coordinator. He told me about a nice little surfing town an hour or two north called Portrush. That night, I talked to my 6 new scholar friends and asked if anyone wanted to venture up north to try our luck surfing. The other basketball scholars decided they would come along to see the town, but were not too sure about getting on a surfboard. When the time came, only one scholar, Jenna Kaufman, was brave enough to join. After an hour-long train, we finally arrived in Portrush. It was cloudy, but fortunately the rain had held off up to that point. We wandered down the street and found a little surf shop called “Woody’s”. Inside, we met a friendly manager who grew up in Portrush and had been surfing the local beaches for over two decades. At first glance, I could tell he was skeptical that we were up to the task. “Are you guys suuuure you want to surf? It’s pretty cold out there… and the waves are kinda big.” We insisted, and he rented us a pair of wetsuits and long boards. Off we went to the Portrush beach!

It was hilarious walking through downtown Portrush in a full wetsuit holding a 10-foot surfboard. I think it was pretty obvious we were clueless Americans getting into trouble. But somehow, we found our way down to the beach and didn’t hesitate to jump right in. The scenery was unbelievable- a beautiful town to your right, bright green mountains to your left. Jenna was so brave and stood up on a couple waves. Pretty cool to say your first time surfing was in the Irish Sea. No big deal.

After we had both caught our fair share of waves, the real Irish weather started to kick in. We had to make the half-mile trek back to Woody’s in full-on hail and 40 MPH winds… The air was so cold we both wanted to jump back in the ocean to warm up. But eventually we made it back, got changed into some toasty clothes and hit a café for some hot chocolate. Best cup of cocoa I’ve ever had…

If you told me this time last year that I would be venturing to Portrush, Northern Ireland to surf with a new group of friends, I would not have believed you. One of the main reasons I applied to the Victory Scholar Program was to step out of my comfort zone and create experiences that will last a lifetime. I will never forget my adventure in Portrush and hope to make it back soon. Hopefully no hail this time!

OMG it’s January 5 2018 it’s my first game back!!!!!!!!!!

Sadly, I had my worst injury in November, I endured a grade 3 ankle sprain while losing my ligaments as well. This was a new experience for me because playing collegiate basketball in America we have access to trainers on the spot. Being in Ireland spraining my ankle help me realize how fortunate I am but I was grateful it happen here. Rather than being a negative Nancy I viewed my negative as a positive. I was able to learn how to do things on my own rather than relying on others or outside sources.

The next day after spraining my ankle I was unable to walk on my ankle so I went to the hospital which was a unique experience so to say. I asked my doctor for a boot, which in America a walking boot is something you put you foot in when you ankle is sprained, pretty much an over sized shoe. He thought I was talking about my sneakers on the ground, (In Ireland they call sneakers boots as well), I literally laughed because he was so confused. Then I explained it to him and he laughed as well, adjusting to the same language but different meanings can be hilarious. For example a boot can also mean the trunk of a car. I love how one thing can have many different approaches and words to describe it. Irish lingo is definitely growing on me. Sadly, the doctor informed my I will be out for about 6-8 weeks. During this time I was still able to coach and attend school so I put my focus on those things while not focusing on negatives. I will say you never know how important your ankle is until you can’t use it anymore. I will say I legit fell on my face with crutches about 6 times on average a day. Being on crutches is a workout in itself, it was days I took a nap on the floor because I had a full workout hoping on the stairs.

COMEBACK GAME!! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love basketball so I’ve been waiting for this game since I sprained my ankle. We played Elks at our home court. Definitely love competing against Elks they don’t take it easy on any team, and every player has an important role, their team has a great cohesive unit, and they are well coached. The Elks are a competitive team that always push me to play an aggressive game. Anyone who doesn’t know the Elks (you should but in case you don’t) they typically play full court man to man defense, a high energy team that spreads and run the floor diligently. My first game back I was excited to play while still being cognizant of my ankle. My teammate did an awesome job, they played hard as well I couldn’t be more proud of my teammates playing that game. I had great time playing against the Elks, I didn’t shoot as well as I should but I left the game without any regrets. Unfortunately, we loss the game, great job to Kollyns (kkbutta) and Jenna the amazing Victory Scholars that play on the Elks team as well. I am definitely happy to be back and excited to play the rest of the season with my team.

So recently after graduating in May of 2018, I moved to New York with the famous Uncle B. My Uncle B always supported me every year during college basketball and we would have great conversations and my team, parents of my teammates, and coaches love him.

When he welcomed me into his home it felt great, I was able to be myself and gain many new connections. My cousin Brent (Uncle B’s son) and I grew really close. Brent is a pretty cool person who doesn’t judge anyone no matter their shortfalls. I was able to get great advice and have many life talks with him. Throughout the summer up until leaving for Ireland Brent and I made awesome memories. Being around him allowed me to be my most authentic self! My favorite memory is when we went to the water park, we had a lot of fun together. This brings me to my TiTi (aunt Camille) she is a very sweet and pure soul. She’ll always tell you the truth no matter what and for that she’s amazing! She is extremely supportive, I love talking to her she always give the pros and cons to every situation while guiding you to make a good decision. These are the amazing connections I made over summer break because of my Uncle B!

My Uncle B is a big family man and he always make sure I know the importance of family. Living with him has opened my eyes to the importance of many life lessons he has taught me. He always teach the importance of family, money management, basketball, and of course working. Uncle B is always working, even though he is retired from teaching he still finds ways to keep himself busy. Over winter break he worked on the basement in the house (he taught me a few things, never know, I may be building a house soon), he let me do a little painting. During that time we were able to talk and bond more. I love the conversations we have, either watching tv, eating dinner, car rides, and etc. Over summer Uncle B does landscaping for many people around the neighborhood. It’s amazing how many people he helps and assist by planting flowers or cutting grass. I would come outside during the summer and he would always be on a new task up and down the block. One day he actually allowed me to cut the grass across the street, he’s turning me into a woman of many talents! My favorite is spending time with him watching tv, specifically watching basketball. We usually watch UCONN women’s basketball team play because that’s his favorite team, I mean who can blame him it’s the best team in the country! While talking to him I learn new things because he see and has so much knowledge to the game of basketball. He’s also a very good listener he always allow me to voice my opinion while giving me proper guidance to the game. Spending time with my Uncle B has been amazing he has gave me a bigger meaning to the importance of family, while accepting and loving those around you no matter what. Being in Ireland makes me miss him very much but I am so happy he is supporting my goals no matter the distance!

Five months ago, during my first week in Ireland, I wrote this blog and still look back at it when I begin to lose focus on what I’m doing here in Ireland

I’m not going to sugar-coat how my first week in Ireland was. To be honest, it started out rough. I was in a foreign country surrounded by 32 people that I had never met in my life and was jet-lagged plus unable to sleep (Who would have thought that Lucozade made an energy drink). That coupled with dealing with an outside situation that was out of my control motivated me to write this in order to remind myself why I came to Ireland and the goals I want to accomplish here: To give back to the sport that gave me so much by sharing with others the impact it’s had on me and helping them get through their own difficult situations.

One night during our first week in Belfast, I knew that the next day, if I wanted, I would have the opportunity to share my story with a group of about 25 teenagers from Belfast and the other scholars. Until then I had never really shared my story with others, much less 60 people I didn’t know. Nevertheless, I did it and was amazed by the support and encouragement of the other scholars who were incredible and made it really easy to do.

With the group of local teenagers and other scholars, I shared that sport has given me the opportunity to make countless lifelong friends and taught me a ton of life lessons but the biggest impact it’s had on me, came during my sophomore year of college when my sister was diagnosed with Leukemia. For me basketball served as a distraction from the stress. When I was off the court my mind was clouded with worry. When I was on the court nothing else mattered except the game, it freed me from the stresses of the real world. For my sister it did the same thing. For four months she underwent extensive chemotherapy and many more painful operations and wasn’t allowed to leave the hospital. She told me that some days the only thing she looked forward to during that time was watching my basketball games on her laptop. During those months, watching those games offered her a short escape from the problems she faced and motivation to get through her day to day procedures. During this time, the support my family got from Coach Seretti, the other coaches and all my teammates at Dickinson College helped get my family through the tough times. Whether it was shaving their heads, writing hand written notes to my sister or helping spread a fundraiser to cover some of the medical expenses, they were there to support my family. In addition to that hundreds of people that I’ve never met reached out to our family offering tons of support much of which was facilitated through basketball.

I feel obligated to share this story and be a Victory Scholar as a way to pay back the sport that has done so much for me and convince others to see the impact that sport can have and not just as meaningless games. It has the ability to help people get through hard times as well as bring people together and support each other. While I can never pay back all the support that my family received over the past few years, Sport Changes Life has put me in a position to pay it forward to kids who are facing similar challenges. I want to be there to offer them guidance and support similar to what so many people did for me. I also chose to be a Victory Scholar because I know that it will help me better myself by pushing me out of my comfort zone which I need to grow as a person.

People often say “new year, new me.”  It may be pedantic, but I don’t really like that phrase.  As I am entering a new year that contains more questions than ever in regard to the future of my life, I will not become a new person, nor do I think that would be a good idea.  I will become a better version of myself.

Since coming overseas, I’ve learned a multitude of valuable lessons about people, about culture, and about myself.  Some of those lessons were simple, and some were frustrating due to how different things can be when you are 3,601 miles from home.  But, in the unexpectedly wise words of former NFL QB and Super Bowl Champion Trent Dilfer, “learning happens on the edge of uncomfortable.”  In 2019, I will not let myself get comfortable.

Writing is something I love doing, but to conclude my studies I will have to write a 20,000 word dissertation filled to the brim with academic research as well as my own input, analysis, and findings.  That will not be comfortable, but I will become a better writer and researcher.  I have recently started boxing (just the training – not planning to compete) at the reputable, nearby Monkstown Boxing Club.  Trust me when I say that the training is not comfortable!  But it will make me a better athlete, whip me into the best shape of my life, introduce me to new people and a new sporting culture, and I happen to really enjoy it despite the challenge.  I will help run a few fundraising events this spring with Sport Changes Life.  While I love what we do, fundraising is a challenge for me and I’m not usually comfortable doing it, but it will make me more well-rounded and it will help our brand and mission continue to grow.  When my time here comes to a close, I will soon be starting my career.  For all I know, I could be in New York, London, or even Dubai.  Any of these moves far away from my home in Wisconsin would be uncomfortable; I’m not afraid to admit that.

My dad always says the toughest part about anything is getting started.  He’s right.  The toughest part of my dissertation will be finding sources and reading them.  The toughest part of learning to box was riding my bike to the club for the first time and walking in as the new guy in a small gym full of locals.  The toughest part about starting my career will be moving somewhere new.  After that, things get easier and they become natural.  In 2019, I will be a better version of myself by continuing to do things that are new.  I am willing to be uncomfortable.

I decided a while ago that I was not going to go home over winter break, but instead I would travel central Europe.  My mom couldn’t bear the thought of me being by myself while doing this, so she sent over my 19 year-old brother Sam.  After long deliberation over where our travels should take us, we determined that three nights in Budapest (pronounced Budapesht, by the way), one night in Vienna, and four nights in Prague (where our cousin lives) would be the ideal plan.  We would stay in hostels in the first two locations, and in Prague with my cousin, where we would spend Christmas.

Central Europe is known for its great architecture.  At some time or another, these areas were under Roman rule, meaning there is no shortage of great monuments, imposing statues, and intricate detail both on and around buildings.  This was evident in each city we visited.  Budapest’s parliament building is the largest in Europe, and certainly the most jaw-dropping.  They also are famous for their thermal baths, in which we spent several hours relaxing.

Next on our list was Vienna, a true winter city famous for its Christmas markets.  Sam and I walked around the city, almost accidentally stumbling into market after market (we were told there were nine in total).  I was blown away at how clean, organized, and modern Vienna is for being such an old city with such historic architecture.  Most impressive was the Rathausplatz market, conveniently placed at the base of a magnificent castle.  It is the Disney-world of Christmas markets, complete with a long ice skating track and countless stalls full of food, drink, art, and trinkets.

Above all else, Prague may have captured my heart.  It combined the cleanliness and organization of Vienna with the remarkable architecture, food, and nightlife of Budapest.  We had four days to spend exploring every inch of the city and we did not waste a minute.  The Prague castle (the largest castle in the world) sits atop a hill just west of old town, providing a remarkable vista overlooking the rest of the city.  Within the center itself, “the city of 100 spires” showed us castles and cathedrals everywhere we turned.  It was the only major city to not be torn apart by the World Wars, and therefore retained many old buildings that other cities could not.  Prague is a place that I will no doubt return – just maybe in the summer next time!

More than anything, being able to explore new places with my brother and then spend Christmas with our cousin was the highlight.  Pictures and words don’t do justice to the experiences we create with the ones we love, and for that I will always be thankful.

If you would have told me last year that I was going to spend this Christmas traveling to three different countries with a group of people I just met 4 months ago …. yes I would have been intrigued, but definitely wouldn’t have believed you. This year I did in fact decide not to travel home for Christmas, which was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. Leading up to my Christmas trip with a group of the other scholars, I started to become more and more anxious. My anxiety wasn’t just due to the excitement of traveling to new places, but rather questioning whether or not I made the right decision by not going home. After all, the holidays are all about spending time with the people that mean the most to you, so why was I choosing to travel even farther away from them? As it turns out, this will be one Christmas I will never forget.

First, in short- here’s an overview of this incredible trip with a group of my fellow scholars…
Our first stop was Prague, Czech Republic. We explored the city, which was absolutely beautiful, and experienced the night life which was really fun. Sightseeing we saw the Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock, St. Charles Bridge, St. Nick’s Cathedral, Prague Castle, John Lennon Wall, and the Christmas market. To summarize, Prague is a really nice city with beautiful architecture and lots to see and do.

Next stop was Vienna, Austria, where we explored Schonbrunn Palace and Belvadare Palace, and went ice skating at the Christmas market (one of my favorite memories of the trip!).

Last stop was Munich, Germany, where we took a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. This is a MUST SEE if you’re ever near Munich. It was absolutely incredible.

On Christmas Day, a few of us went to a Catholic mass (spoken all in German) and spent the rest of the day at the Hofbräuhaus beer hall… experiencing the true German culture. (Church then booze… life’s all about balance right?)

The day after Christmas we took a free walking tour of Munich, and explored an art museum (which was also free… lots of free things in these cities if you do the research!). The last day in Munich, Shay and I took a tour of Dachau Concentration Camp. This incredible experience is really hard to put into words (something I would highly recommend you experience for yourself.) Before we left Munich that day, we watched a few locals surf in the river at the English Gardens … even in 35 degree weather! This was a really cool sight to see.

Overall, a few times throughout the trip, I got homesick. It came in waves, but as the trip went on, I knew I made the right decision not going home. I put myself out of my comfort zone once again, and ended up learning so much about myself and the world around me. I got the chance to experience the culture of 3 incredible major cities of the world with a great group of people.

Kollyns, Shay, Courtney, Johnny, Ellen, Tom, Justus… you guys made this Christmas one I will absolutely never forget. Our Christmas may have began with eating Pringle’s and playing cards til 4am, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. The memories, the views, the laughs we shared are invaluable.
@sportchangeslife thanks for choosing some pretty cool scholars to join me on this crazy ride. Hope everyone had a great holiday. Cheers!

Accepting change has not always been easy for me. Part of me is a homebody, who likes a small circle of friends, and who is very close with family. The other part of me is so curious about the world and loves adventure. With that being said, it was not exactly easy to move across the world, knowing there was a chance I might not see my family and friends, my home, my dog, my comfort zone for a whole year. On the day I was to leave I woke up so anxious, knowing that a big change was about to happen and not really knowing how I felt about it.

So far, this journey of newness and adventure and growth has come with it’s ups and downs, and with it’s good days and bad days. There are moments where I feel like I could do anything I set my mind to, go anywhere in the world, meet tons of new people and go to tons of new places and find joy in the littlest things. There are also moments where I miss eating my mom’s spaghetti, arguing with my sisters over clothes, going to happy hour with my best friends in college, walking my dog, watching Wheel of Fortune with my parents after dinner with a big bowl of ice cream (told ya I’m a homebody) …. it’s the little things in life that bring me the most joy, and being away from home has made me appreciate them that much more. I get homesick for these “little things” and for my loved ones often, but one thing I’ve learned through this is that life is all about balance. You will always have your high and low moments, but it’s your response to these moments that will have the greatest impact on you in the long run.

The single greatest thing I’ve learned so far while I’ve been away from home is to count my blessings, every day. (Even though I’ve realized that I have far too many to count.) I wake up every day missing my family and my friends, but also realize that I am so lucky to have all these people in my life that I have the ability to miss. Some people don’t have the privilege of having a best friend or a brother or sister or mom or dad. While in Northern Ireland, I have met lots of people who have been discriminated against because of their religion. I’ve also met 13 year olds with drug and alcohol problems, who struggle to find a place to sleep or food to eat every day. Additionally I’ve met men and women as young as 60 with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Having the opportunity to interact with and get to know people in situations like these humbles me every day that I’m here.

In regards to all this, in late September, I heard the very sad news from home that one of my college classmates had passed away, tragically in a boating accident. She was my age; we had classes together and had just graduated together in May, and she was working towards a future career as a dentist. Hearing this news was of course devastating and shocking. How was it that I was just sharing 4 years of college with this girl who was now taken from us so young? This taught me, in a rather harsh way, to count my blessings every day. This life is so precious, and every day is truly a gift. Being away from my loved ones at home is difficult, but reminding myself every day how blessed I am to have them, and how lucky I am to be here, is what keeps me going. It’s taught me to live every day like it really is my last.

This journey has already humbled me in ways that I could never have imagined it would. I’m looking forward to more growth in the next coming months. Here’s to making the most of our time we have in this crazy world. Cheers!

For those of you that have been following my basketball career for a while, welcome back. To those of you that are new here, I have horrible knees. I have had knee problems all of my life but things took a turn for the serious at the beginning of last year’s season. 4 days into my Senior season I tore my meniscus. Through the diagnostic process, I also learned that I had a partial-chronic tear in my ACL. I remember sitting in the training room office crying in my meeting with the on-staff doctor because she led with “You have a tear in your ACL” instead of “You can continue to play, you may have had this for a while”. After regaining my composure, we agreed that the conversation could probably have been worded better to avoid the tears. Learning it was something I could power through was the best news I could have received. I was fitted with a brace for pain and stability and carried on. I got surgery at the end of the season and stitched my meniscus up (gross).

Stitches meant that I was in for the longest possible recovery for the procedure. I was on crutches and in a brace for much longer than I had hoped but it was okay because it meant I was on my way to getting back to my 100%. When I got my surgery I thought I was done with basketball, but when I was accepted into the Victory Scholar program I saw a whole new future. I was excited to play another season of basketball, this one with two good knees. You can imagine my disappointment sitting in my surgeon’s office looking over my latest MRI, listening to her tell me that I’ve torn it again and will need another surgery. It’s hard to hear a doctor tell you that she’s unsure if you’ll be able to finish your season with the state your knee is in when all you want to do is play basketball. However, I’ve done it before and I’m ready to do it again. My friend Liv used to regularly quote “If you fall down 7 times you’ve got to get up 8” and it was the first thing that came to mind sitting in that office. I’m going to give it my absolute all these last few months of our season and worry about the rest when it comes. I can’t wait to get back on the court this week doing what I love most!