Time difference. It’s one of those things that I knew was going to be a hard adjustment but I didn’t think that I would still be struggling to adjust 7 months after I arrived in Dublin. I find it very difficult to go to sleep at a decent time because I feel that if I sleep based on the time here in Ireland, I’m going to miss everything that’s going on back at home. Especially now, in the midst of March Madness basketball, games aren’t typically broadcasted until midnight. If you’re a basketball fan, you’ll understand the importance of this month. It is THE best month of basketball because you never know what’s going to happen. With that being said, sleeping is virtually non-existent this month. Here in Ireland, we are 4-5 hours ahead of the east coast and a whopping 10-11 hours ahead of Hawai’i (I never really know because of daylight savings). If you can imagine, trying to communicate with my family all the way in Hawai’i is near impossible. When I’m awake, my family is already passing z’s in their sleep and when I’m about ready to sleep they are just waking up. It feels like the world just doesn’t want me to keep in touch with my people in Hawai’i. I’ve noticed it more lately that I try to compensate for the time difference by staying up as late as 3 am in the morning to talk to family, even if I have class the next day at 9 am. It’s becoming a habit and I’m starting to feel the repercussions of my lack of sleep. I’m less productive and much more irritable throughout the day. My memory seems to escape me and fatigue settles in a lot quicker while I’m playing basketball. Overall, I don’t like the effect this is having on my well-being and how it is affecting my performance on the court. As the disciplined person I always strive to be I’ve decided enough is enough. From now on, I am going to make it my goal to put my phone down and close my eyes by midnight. I know I’m going to struggle with wanting to stay up sometimes but I’ve got to stay focused and persevere through the temptation because I’m afraid that if I don’t change now, it may hurt my academic performance and my basketball team in the future. With that being said, wish me luck guys, I’m gonna need it.

“Your future depends on your dreams so go to sleep”

In life, people may miss opportunities or regret not taking a chance. One opportunity I will never regret is applying to the Sport Changes Life Program. Being apart of this program has taught me so much about myself and others. I’ve matured so much as a person, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. On an everyday basis, I live by my 2018 mantra, “you never know what people may go through on a constant basis. Externally people may look fine, but that’s not always the case. You never know what kind of impact or influence you may have on a person’s life. The Sport Changes Life Program has allowed me to connect, help and act as a positive role model on and off the basketball court. ”

Being an inspiration to the youth is incredibly humbling and vital. You give kids hope and things to aspire too. You only have one time to make a first impression, so you should carry yourself to the highest standard because you never know who’s watching. These last couple months, I understand the meaning “you never know who’s watching.” After games or even in the supermarket, people will randomly come up to me and say “You are my child’s idol” or “My child thinks you are the coolest person ever.” When people tell me these things, it makes me feel so good, to know that I have an impact on someone’s life. Not only do I affect their lives, but they also affect my life as well. Being around new people, kids, adults, just being around others inspire me daily. Learning new cultures, nitpicking people’s brains, stepping out of my comfort zone, and so much more. The kids have taught me patience, determination, sacrifice, belief, and happiness. The main thing I’ve learned out here is… SMILE MORE! Life is fantastic, so SMILE MORE!

Lastly, former NFL player- Ray Lewis once said- “Don’t walk through life just playing football. Don’t walk through life just being an athlete. Athletics will fade. Character and integrity and really making an impact on someone’s life, that’s the ultimate vision, that’s the ultimate goal – bottom line.”

DON’T FORGET TO SMILE MORE!

-Chazito Out
#imagine

As one of our eHOOPs mentoring sessions comes to an end, I can’t help but think back to when we first met this group of wonderful people. From not knowing what to expect or how they would react to some Americans wanting to get to know them and connect with them, we slowly but surely became one big family. We have had countless memories shared from the tons of intense and funny at the same time, games we have all taking part in playing in the sports hall. To the many amounts of serious business (as I like to call it) activities we have done in the lecture hall and computer lab. I can actually say I have learned a lot about Northern Ireland because of these guys. From sharing personal stories, to just funny memories I can honestly say that it is a bittersweet moment as we spent our last gathering by going out to eat at Restaurant Vila Italia which by far was excellent in quality of food, if I do say so myself. We also got the chance to go and race go-karts the week before  at Need for Speed which was hilarious. (Just to name a few of the group activities we have enjoyed outside of the sports hall) I think it’s just funny to see how people drive and react to someone who is like “pedal to the medal” when on the road haha. But most importantly I am happy to hear that Sport Changes Life will be continuing on a sort of drop off at the company’s office so the group can continue to stay together and interact with each other. It’s very important to maintain that bond with people who share the same interest in you, or simply just make you feel at ease with their company. There’s no judging at eHOOPs sessions, everyone is free to be themselves, and in the words of the lads, it is “good craic.” So why wouldn’t you want something like that to continue? Our mentoring sessions where not all just about fun and games but about actually helping out the eHOOPERs, whether it be helping them make themselves a resume or cover letter, giving them techniques like the do’s and don’t of when interviewing for a job, and so on. The main focus was them which I think is the best part of the mentoring. So I want to end this blog by saying I was honored to be apart of this groups eHOOPs session.

There is a little river that runs right under my cozy apartment here in Carlow, Ireland. From my bedroom, I can look out of my window and glance down upon this stream as it rushes through the quiet town of Carlow. It is very therapeutic at times. Especially the times where I sit upon my desk and stare blankly at my computer screen, textbook, or guitar. In the span of a few dozen yards, the river changes its form quite dramatically.

The first strip can be defined as what you might call a ‘lazy river.’ Slowly and methodically making its way down its course, running parallel to the nearby street. In this section, the water is pristine. It wades through the tall grass with little breaks, acting as a mirror as it reflects the town lights. I stare at this section, thinking that on the next warm, sunny day, I will grab whatever can float and wade with the gentle tide. It is also the longest section. Further enticing me to hop on in and enjoy the ride.

In a matter of a few moments, the once undisturbed water crashes as it flows under a small bridge. First, the water picks up speed then flushes downhill. It creates a small wave that breaks over a few protruding rocks. Then it simmers down and diverts its path into a little wading pool. Here, the water collects itself, swirls around a few times, and seemingly prepares itself for the next strip of yet another long, lazy river. In this section a few questions arise. Do I jump out? Can my little impromptu floatie make it? Is this the most fun part? Will I get stuck in that little whirlpool? Is it worth getting wet? I imagine a little spike of anxiety would muddle my placid state upon the lazy river.

There is only one clear option. In no way can I answer all of these questions. I cannot just jump out onto the nearby bank. I would be left stranded and my short-lived excursion down the lazy river would certainly not be worthwhile. The only option is to put doubt and questions aside and take on this little hindrance. I very well could sink my floatie and scrape a few limbs on the rocks. I just might make it through and get stuck circling around in the little channel. But maybe, just maybe, my floatie will hold strong, pick up speed, and make it to the other side upon the relaxing tide, steadily flowing until out of sight. Allowing me the pleasant opportunity to crack a cold one (soda pop) and continue on my illustrious voyage with the proven S.S Gordon….until the next obstruction.

 

 

There are many different outcomes that can come about from this little escapade, so the mind is left to wander. One thing is for sure, the only way to find out is to jump in feet first.

 

P.S.

Don’t dive headfirst. Momma always said that that is a very silly thing to do at my height (Forrest Gump voice).

I am going to start this blog off by saying I HATE how much I am on my phone. I am constantly checking this little screen and this virtual world that no one ACTUALLY lives in. I often find myself scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, but I don’t even really know what I am looking at. It’s like a bad habit that I can’t break. I am simply look at a fake world of everyone’s best moments in life, and become so caught up in people who most of the time I don’t event get to see in person. To top it off, I will post only my best moments and pictures to remind everyone how amazing my time abroad has been.

Now don’t get me wrong, I think social media and cell phones are great and serve a specific purpose. I think our phones have a great way of connecting us when we are all living our own lives. In particular I think of how often I can call and Facetime my niece and nephew while living in Ireland and I am so thankful for that.

I was inspired to write this blog because I started my work placement for my masters program a few weeks ago, working with those dealing with alcohol addiction. My placement is 3 times a week and it is about a 30-40 minute walk away from my house. At first, I was instantly annoyed that I would have to set aside another hour of the day and dedicate that to walking to and from work. With this attitude, I decided not to walk and call a cab on my first day of work. The cab driver was an 80 year old man (if you know me, I LOVE old people) so I was instantly excited to strike up a conversation with him. He was immediately shocked that I was talking with him, so much so that he said, “most kids just get in my cab, look down at their phones, and don’t talk to me.” I was taken back a little bit, thinking it was another person hating on the millennial generation. However, I realized how right he was. How many times have I gotten in a cab or gone somewhere and just stared at my phone? Probably a lot!

John (the cab driver) and I got talking, and he told me all about his life growing up at Fanad Head, which is a stunning light house right here in Donegal. We were laughing and joking about how small the world is. He told me how Fanad Head is his favorite place in the whole world and how peaceful it is to him. He also said, “we need to have more people talking face to face and sharing their stories. That is the Irish way you know?!” All I could do was smile. It really brought me back to my childhood when I had no cell phone and I would spend hours catching butterflies on the farm. When I lived in every single moment. No fake world to look at, just real life moments. I thought about all the family parties I spent talking and sharing stories, and moments playing basketball with amazing teammates and no phone to look at.

After leaving the cab, I was instantly in a better mood. I then decided that from now on, I am going to walk to work and enjoy being in the moment. I made one rule for myself, that I won’t look at my phone for those 30-40 minutes each way and just be present in the moment. Since I made this rule, the past week was so peaceful and I started smiling at people passing by me on the sidewalk, enjoyed talking to the cashier at the deli, and even noticed a couple restaurants I never knew existed.

I want to thank the amazing Irish people for reminding me to always live in the present moment and for sharing your incredible stories with the world. It is my hope that I can continue to put away my phone and not look down so much. Instead I vow to keep my head up. Enjoy life, live in the moment, because after all this moment is really all we are guaranteed.

The transition from college to the workplace has been a difficult but very rewarding one.  In the MSc Marketing Practice course that I am completing at Cork Institute of Technology, the second semester we must go out and first interview for job offers where we will be working as interns. Job offers are corralled by one of the professors and leaders of the MSc Marketing Practice, Maurice Murphy.  This made our jobs as students easier just going to interview instead of a finding an internship too.  Then once we find our workplace we then go fulfill an internship for that company. Luckily enough I only had to interview once and received mine right away.  I received my offer as an intern at VMware, a global technology company that excels in cloud infrastructure and security.  The workplace is in Ballincollig, a town just outside of Cork City. The campus consists of six houses  (Parnell, Kavanagh, Beckett, Behan, Emmett, and Yeats).  The company contains just under 1,000 employees but is to surpass that number which shows how VMware is growing and displays how great of a company it is to work for. VMware is an international company that sells globally but is based out of the United States in Palo Alto, California. VMware is a fantastic company to work for.  For the fourth time in a row they have earned a place on Fortune’s U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.   They earned the #39 spot this year, because of their commitment to fostering a trust-based, inclusive culture where their employees thrive.

          This opportunity would not be available to me without Sport Changes Life.  Being a Victory Scholar has given me the most unique and constructive opportunities I would have never obtained anywhere else.  This scholarship and this course has allowed me to acquire not only a great resume builder by working at VMware but great knowledge and life skills.  I have been there since January 29th and it has been a tremendous experience.  There have been some adjustments though from college life to being a 9 to 5 worker or in my case, 8:15 to 5 worker.  The first being the early work hours and the waking up early every morning.  At first, I was annoyed at the early starts, but I have started to enjoy them. It makes me feel as if I am way more productive.  The second adjustment has been making my own lunches. When at college I would always have the food services and cafeteria to go to for a bite to eat but now making my own meals and planning has certainly been different.  I am certainly eating healthier than the cafeteria as I usually bring big salads into work now.  One of the best aspects about VMware is that they have monster coffee machines with lattes and cappuccinos, many assorted teas, and snacks like bagels, bread, breakfast bars, cereal, oatmeal, cookies, fruit, nuts, and raisins.  This helps with never getting hungry at work and helps in aiding my salads to be that much better.

          One of the best parts of the workplace so far though is the people I work with and around.  Everyone is so friendly and helpful in making work at VMware that much better.  We have daily discussions about what’s going on in our life or about who played in the Champions League the night before.  It has also made me pay more attention to regular season soccer like the Premier League, and Champions League.  Usually in the U.S. we would be discussing the NBA or NFL or college basketball but here I always must study up on soccer to talk sports at the workplace.

          In conclusion, this program has given me incredible opportunities as well as the course I decided to enroll in.  Next time on my blog be sure to tune in why I became a Victory Scholar!!!

It was a hot topic for a bit at the beginning of the year, should we get a t.v. or not? We weren’t looking for anything fancy, just a simple screen that would provide us with basic cable and something the boys could connect a game station to. It’s now March and we don’t have a television, but truthfully, I’m a bit delighted we decided to hold off on getting one.

Even though we’re living in a new country, we all still succumb to the (in)famous Netflix binge. This may be shocking, but the weather sometimes prevents us from going outside and wandering about town. There are definitely times where we’ve had things to do non-stop, and the only refreshing feeling is isolating ourselves in our own spaces with some popcorn and a good movie. This semester though, we wanted to hang out more in our communal living room, but there wasn’t much we could do aside from scrolling through our phones or laptops. One day, Dom and Luke borrowed Monopoly from our res life office and ever since a friendly house competition has emerged. We’ve been filling our down time (and our competitive spirits) with regular games of Monopoly, Heads Up, Catan and a variety of card games. Playing these games together has definitely sparked some interesting conversations and it’s provided a bit of craic needed to enjoy our spare time.

Even though we don’t have a television, I’m enjoying the activities I’ve gotten to do instead. When we’re not mentoring, coaching, playing our sport or competing against one another in board games, I enjoy exploring Belfast and the neighboring towns that surround us. Yesterday I went into town to pick up a few things and discovered there was a Tesco right near City Hall and soon after found a quaint little bookshop I had no idea existed. I’ve lived here for over 6 months and the fact that I’m still finding new places means I have more exploring to do before I head home. Although I miss plopping myself on the couch every Thursday night for an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, I’m going to miss coming downstairs to Catan waiting to be played even more. You can get ahold of a television anywhere in the States, but the memories I’ve made playing board games and gallivanting throughout Northern Ireland with my housemates can’t be replicated.

These next three months in Ireland are going to absolutely fly by, and everyone is constantly telling me to take advantage of all of the opportunities presented to me, especially the opportunity to travel. As Easter break began to approach I started to think about potential places to travel. I spoke with some of the other scholars and Deja and I agreed that Greece would be the perfect destination. Although rather spontaneous, we booked our flights and a place to stay and are going to spend a few days in Athens at the end of March. I am so excited for our adventure, and I am excited that I will have new adventure awaiting me at the end of April. My sister is taking Step 1 (the first round of her boards to become a doctor) at the end of April, and she is celebrating finishing her exam by taking a trip to Europe. We are spending a few days in Ireland while I have class, and then we are going to take a quick trip to Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague. When I have completed my courses and the SCL program I decided that I wasn’t ready to go home just yet and I wanted to take advantage of being in Europe. My college roommate Meredith is going to meet me in Scotland and we are going to most likely travel to the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, France, and end in London.

I am excited to go home and start my career, but I have learned when an opportunity presents itself you have to seize the moment. Life is too short, and I often feel the importance of travel is underrated. My dad is actually the person who has always encouraged my sister and me to travel because there is no better to understand a country, its culture, and its people than actually going and learning first hand. When I had the opportunity to do an exchange in Spain my dad encouraged me to go, and although I was nervous to live with a Spanish family in Pamplona for a couple of weeks, the exchange was one of the most rewarding experiences. I am so appreciative that I have learned the Irish culture and been embraced in such a kind community, and I am so excited to travel throughout Europe and learn even more.

I haven’t written this story yet because it is so hard for me to tell, but this “story” is what inspires me to live life to the fullest every single day, and I hope it inspires you, too.

If you’ve read any of my previous blogs, you’re aware that I am the oldest of three children in my family. My two brothers, Sean and Christian, and I were all adopted at birth by my amazing mother and father. My youngest brother, Christian, and I are biologically related. Four years ago, at the age of fourteen, he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa 2 (RP2) which is a genetic retinal disorder that causes progressive vision loss. Our retinal brain cells control our day and night vision. RP2 destroys these brain cells. Christian is lucky, relatively, because the disease has affected his night vision at this point more than his day vision. Christian is legally blind right now. He’ll never drive a car, he can’t read basic print, he had to give up contact sports and it’s extremely difficult for him to look at a computer. Sometimes it’s hard for him to cross the street if the sun is too bright. He also can’t see the street lights. At the start of this year, he began to learn braille. But being legally blind does afford him special accommodations at school which is a positive. There is no cure for this disease, though there is research being conducted in the area of genetics and stem cell therapies. This research might help my brother, but time is of the essence.  In due course, he could become totally blind. The best case for him is that his vision will be like looking through the hole of a straw.

My parents first told me about Christian’s condition after my college’s home basketball season opener tournament my freshman year. After starting off our season 2-0 and being named to the All-Tournament Team, I could not wait to celebrate with my parents who I had not seen since the season had started. We went out to dinner and, after putting our orders in, my Mom turned to me and said, “We have something to tell you”. For as long as I live, I will never forget how those six words sounded…

From that day on Christian was no longer just my “little brother”.  RP2 is a genetic disorder, so when I came home for Thanksgiving break that year I had to be tested for the disease as well. When the doctor came back with the findings and told my family that my test results were negative, Christian looked at me with one of the sincerest smiles, a smile I will never forget, and said, “Faith, I am so happy that you don’t have to go through this”. Words cannot describe the heartfelt look my brother had on his face. At times, I consider Christian to be the oldest.  He is so selfless and has never taken his disability as an obstacle in his life. I have never heard him complain nor ask why this awful thing had to happen to him – which is an amazing, but also sometimes a scary thing to think about. How can be so calm about his disease and his future?

Being the oldest and having to watch my brother’s vision progressively get worse and worse is so hard. Hard in the sense that, because I am the oldest sibling, it is my job to take care and look out for my younger siblings. Truthfully, Christian is the one who takes care of me. The summer before I left for my senior year of college, I worked up the courage to ask him if he was scared about completely losing his vision one day. He looked at me and said, “Faith, there are people in this world who are getting killed over their religions, beliefs, and sexuality…I can’t be upset when we have been given such a blessed life.”

I aspire to live every day like Christian – whether it be on or off the court. He is right. We have been given such a blessed life that it is so wrong not to enjoy every single second we have on this Earth with each other. One of my favorite quotes that reminds me of all that my brother has taught me is, “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”  Not only is Christian just my younger brother, but he is my light, my encouragement, and my best friend.  Even though, he may not always be able to see all of the beauty in the world, he knows it’s there and intends to be thankful for it all. Because of him, I witness something beautiful every day.

What truly matters in this world goes beyond sight! As Christian has learned from the incredible support of organizations like the New York State Commission for the Blind and NABA (Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, NY), and especially the vision impaired friends he has made — and I’ll quote him —  “I may be losing my sight, but I’ll never lose my vision.”

 

No one prepares you for what happens after the final buzzer sounds…after four years of blood, sweat, and tears to come up short is soul crushing…or so I thought.

For four years my life was consumed with one thing. Basketball. More specifically, winning the MAAC Championship. But no one prepared me for what happens after. After it is all said and done and your time has run out, then what? I have written plenty of blogs about my time at Siena and how much my experience there has made me into the person I am today. With the MAAC Tournament happening this weekend I thought it would be appropriate to talk about my final game in a Siena uniform.

My career at Siena ended on March 4, 2017. For the second time in three years we were defeated by Iona in the tournament. The team that we had beaten twice in the regular season that year. When I left the court for the final time, every emotion in the world hit me at once. How could it be over? Could I have done more? What now? Being on this team has defined who I am, so who am I without this Siena team?

My face kind of says it all here as I exited the game for the final time.  There were so many questions that flooded into my mind in the time after it was all over. For weeks I wasn’t sure what to do, it felt like I had lost a significant part of who I am.  Especially when the team began post-season workouts, I couldn’t help but feel like I should still be in that gym playing with them. For those who know me and know how much being on time means to me, I was also in a constant state of anxiety thinking I was late to practice for those weeks that followed haha. Eventually, though, I realized all of these feelings and questions were actually a good thing in a way. Everyone warns you from the beginning that your time in college will go by fast, so enjoy it. They were right. It did go by way too fast, and the fact that I still miss it so much just goes to show how much of an impact my time at Siena has had on my life. Though my collegiate career had come to a close, there was no doubt in my mind that all blood, sweat, and tears was all worth it. We may not have won a MAAC Championship in my time at Siena, but what I did gain from my experience I can take with me forever. The relationships I formed and the lessons I learned may not be a physical trophy, but they are priceless to me and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

A year has gone by since I hung that jersey up for the final time.  I still miss my time at Siena more than anything, and find that I struggle at times with playing on a new team.  Mainly because it isn’t Siena.  The different environment and playing on a new team was a huge culture shock at first.  Having to prove yourself all over again to an unfamiliar team was definitely intimidating at first.  Luckily, I was placed here in Waterford with the Wildcats and could not have asked for a better place to finish my basketball career.  We haven’t had the best season, but the people here are great and this experience is once in a lifetime.  Being part of the SCL family really has helped me in so many ways with showing me what my life looks like without Siena.  It has been a great experience to continue my school and basketball, all while helping the community.  It really has been the best way for me to figure out who I am without Siena, and is helping me transition into figuring out what I actually want to do with the rest of my life.  After about a year away, I think Siena was just the starting point for me, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds!

So to all the seniors out there whose clock is ticking, enjoy it. There will be no other time that could equate to the feeling of playing in March, so make the most of it and leave it all out on the court! Specifically, to my Siena Saints…make all the hard work worth it this weekend and get that RINGGG!!!

 

-Meg

P.S.- To all those seniors, if you are looking for a great opportunity after it’s all said and done, I would highly suggest applying to be a Victory Scholar!

Basketball has been a part of my life ever since of I was 6 years old. Basketball has always brought my family together, introduced me to some of my best friends, allowed me to travel the world, and most importantly helped me overcome some of the hardest moments in my life. Life has not always been easy or straightforward, but there has always been one constant in my life: basketball. In middle school I knew my summer would consist of traveling around the country for AAU tournaments, and in high school I knew no matter what my day looked like I would always have basketball practice to look forward to, and in college, as busy as I was I was able to structure my day incredibly efficiently because of the stability that basketball provided.

Don’t get me wrong basketball has not always been all happy go lucky. There were some tough moments. I went from being a star when I was younger to playing for one of the best high school teams in the country. I hardly played my freshmen year on Varsity, and I knew any playing time I got I earned. I learned the true meaning of hard work and the importance of a team. While I was in high school we won four straight Ohio State Championships, which was more satisfying than any individual accolade I could have ever received. I took this mentality with me to college because I knew that all of my teammates were the best players from their area, and I knew once again any playing I received I would have to earn. I worked very hard my first two years and stayed the summer going into my junior year, so that I could be the best player I could possibly be for my team. I earned a starting position my junior year, and sadly three games into the season I tore my ACL. This season ending injury once again reminded me how much I loved basketball and how much I wasn’t ready to give it up. I once again stayed for the summer so I could rehab and be ready for the season. Although I was slow to recover, I eventually earned back my starting position the second half of the season and we ended the Patriot League the best we had in a while. I was fortunate to have such motivating coaches, the best trainer in the world, and teammates that believed in me every step of the way. Basketball taught me to never give up, and instilled a diligent work ethic in me that I try and use in all aspects in my life. I know that I will not always be the best, but I can always be one of the hardest workers.

Next weekend is my last game of basketball with the Portlaoise Panthers and I cannot believe that my basketball career is almost over. Playing competitive basketball almost my entire life has definitely contributed to the person I am today. Basketball has pushed me physically, mentally, and emotionally. All those long training sessions and difficult conditioning sessions with nearly impossible times pushed me to never give up and helped me realize how powerful a strong mentality is. Although I had my ups and downs with basketball over the years, I would never give up my years playing the sport I love and I am so sad that my career is almost over. I am stronger, tougher, more competitive, more disciplined, more persistent, more caring, and more diligent because of basketball. Basketball has taught me how to manage my time and instilled such a powerful work ethic in me. Basketball has taught me that although we may not always win, our response to a loss is what matters. I am thankful for all of the life lessons that basketball has taught me and for bringing me to some of the most incredible friends and mentors.

As I mentioned life has not always been straightforward or easy. I hardly talk about my personal life, but a reason I am so thankful for basketball is because it helped me preserve during the hardest time in my life. I lost my mom my sophomore year of high school and I found out that she had passed during our season opener. My dad got the call, my sister saw him, and I saw her. My sister was on the court and she went down. I saw her and I knew and I was paralyzed with sadness. We both finished the game and we won. We won that game for my mom, and we have played every game since for my mom. My mom was the most beautiful, courageous, caring, giving person I have ever known and I am honored to play for her and live everyday in her memory. Life has not been easy since I lost my mom, but basketball helped me stay focused, and I am thankful for that.

We talk a lot about how sports change lives, but honestly they do. They help define the person you are, teach you important life lessons, and overcome adversity when life gets too hard. When life got too complicated I knew that I had basketball as a stress reliever. I am so thankful for the sport of basketball and everything it has done for me.

This is an exciting week for me as five members of my family are here to visit! Last weekend I had a great time spending a couple of days with my sister. I got to show her around Limerick, introduce her to a lot of people, and just hang out. It was so great to see her and to show her my life over here. This week, my parents, my great aunt and uncle, and my uncle are all here for the week. I am sad that my grandparents weren’t able to make the trip, but we will keep in close touch with them throughout the week. I have always been really close to my family. They would go to pretty much every one of my games throughout high school and college. They’ll get to see me play 5 games while they are over in Ireland because I have a really busy week of games. In between the games, we’re going to get a chance to spend a day in Dublin and Belfast. They also got the chance to go to the Cliffs of Moher when I was coaching. It will be a pretty busy week, but I am so happy to be able to spend it with all of them. Throughout the year they have been following along on my journey, so it is awesome to be able to share it with them!

Greetings everybody!

With a week having passed after my class trip to Belgium, I have been able to look back and appreciate how much of a fun, informative, at times challenging, and eye-opening week it was. My MSc in International Business course, along with the Global Practice MA and the International Business undergrads travelled to Belgium together to get a real-life look at the main hub of the European Union, the Port of Antwerp, the Irish Embassy, and the AB InBev – specifically Stella Artois – factory.

The week was so eye-opening for me because as a person having grown up in the States, studying mostly social and hard science in undergrad, I was moved by how ignorant I was to the massively influential body of government that is the EU. While coming over here I knew my course was going to be extremely different for me just in terms of the difference between business studies and psychology and global health, I was not aware of how much I was unfamiliar with European politics, economics, the relationship between the two, and their impact on the rest of the world. Long story short, I definitely learned a lot.

The first day began with a lecture from a professor involved in European Studies who works with the European Union. With my response to her first question of “write down everything you think of when you hear ‘EU’ being an extremely short list only consisting of the word ‘Brexit’ (I promise I’m educated), I knew I was definitely going to learn some new things over the course of the week. From going into the actual buildings housing the European Commission and Parliament, meeting and hearing from people working for the EU and in Belgium-based companies, we were exposed to the complexity of the link between industry and government and how much of an – albeit ambiguous – effect Brexit is going to have on companies – from small to medium enterprises in Ireland to major multinationals.
While we were booked essentially every day with activities from morning to night, along with a group project to present on the last day, the fun of travelling with my class and being in a new place overshadowed the intensity and stress of the week (the waffles didn’t hurt either). It was a great chance for us all to get to know each other in an environment far removed from CIT.

Overall, it was an amazing week. Even though we were all wrecked at the end of it (shoutout to the Port of Antwerp tour guide who kept talking at the front of our bus despite 95% of everyone taking a power nap), it was a privilege to have the opportunity to go on a trip like this. Once again, I am struck by how grateful I am to be over here, getting my MSc on a topic I never thought I would be studying but have definitely become passionate about – ultimately feeding and expanding my view of the world in ways I never could have imagined. 🙂

This week I was able to take a trip to Oslo, Norway where I met my mom and second cousin, Tor. The trip was extremely special to me because along with being 25% Irish I’m also 25% Norwegian. During World War II my Mimi (my mom’s mom) emigrated to the U.S. with her family from Norway. Since her move to the U.S. she’s been back to Norway several times and so has my mom. They usually stay with Tor in Oslo or with other relatives in their summer cabin in Arendal. I always knew that I’d make it to Norway one day but I never dreamed it’d be with my mom and I’d be traveling from my current home in Dublin, Ireland.

I was only in Oslo for two and a half days but we most certainly made the most of it. Our trip began with dinner and celebratory champagne the night I arrived. Each morning started with espresso and a typical Norwegian breakfast of hard boiled eggs, assorted cheeses, grapes, bread, and maybe even a little salmon or tuna. My cousin Tor is a true foodie and an amazing cook so he absolutely spoiled my mom and I while we were there. On Thursday we ventured to the Viking Ship Museum followed by the Folk Museum to get a real feel for the Norwegian heritage. Being an art history major, I had learned about several of the famous Viking ships that were preserved at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, but never did I think I’d have the chance to see them in person. After getting our tourist fix we stopped into a bistro on the fishing pier where we had possibly the best fish soup I’ve ever tasted. The seafood was so fresh because Oslo is a fishing village right on the water. With full tummies we boarded a ferry that cruised around the fjord stopping at each island. The fjords are what make Norway, specifically Oslo, so picturesque. Each island has snow covered cabins nestled into the woods and anchored boats drifting alongside old docks. I was entranced by the icy blue sea and the uniqueness of each island we stopped at. Our day ended with a burger and Bulmer’s Irish cider, the best of Norway and Ireland in one meal.

On Day 2 we headed to frogner Park home to Vigeland sculpture park. The entire green area (or snowy area as of right now) is covered in bronze statues by the same artist. From there we walked around Grünerløkka, one of the trendiest areas in Oslo, littered with cafes, second hand vintage shops, and impressive street art. Along the way we passed the secondary school and apartment where my mimi grew up! We ended our afternoon with a delicious meal at Mathallen food hall, an indoor food market specializing in all local Norwegian cuisine and vendors. We enjoyed chicken with cabbage and potatoes alongside a heaping bowl of fresh mussels. I couldn’t get enough of the seafood in Norway which reminded me so much of my home in Scituate, MA. Equipped with a food induced coma, we headed home to relax before the main event; a trip to the Oslo Opera House to see the Norwegian production of Norma. This was my first ever opera and I absolutely loved it! The orchestra music was hauntingly beautiful and the entire production was just enchanting. I couldn’t have asked for a better first opera experience with the people I love.

I’m currently aboard my flight back to Dublin while writing this and reflecting on the past two days. I’m so incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to travel so easily while living in Ireland. My first trip to Norway with my mom is one I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was so great that I’ve already made plans to head back to Norway in the spring to visit another one of my relatives (Tor’s brother) up North. With warmer weather (hopefully) I hope to visit Trolltunga and the Lofoten Islands, some of the most scenic hiking spots and beautiful landscapes Norway has to offer. There is something inexplicably fulfilling about visiting family and getting in touch with your ancestral roots. Just as I felt at home when I landed in Ireland for the first time, I instantly fell in love with Norway and the Scandinavian culture. This year has allowed me to explore the different parts of my identity and feel even more grounded in who I am as a person. I can’t wait to see where my next adventure takes me, but for now I’m excited to continue to experience every inch of Ireland while I still can. Now time to take a quick nap before I land and head straight to my club game against University of Limerick! The Victory Scholar life is a hectic and fast paced one but I wouldn’t change it for the world!

With Love,

Shannon

With a hectic schedule, it’s easy at times to get lost in the day to day activities that being a Victory Scholar consists of. Going to school as well as playing and coaching for multiple teams is basically a full time job. Even though it may be difficult here and there, it’s important to take a step away at times and realize just how fortunate I am. I’m still able to play the game I love while seeing the beautiful country of Ireland, getting a great education, and making an impact on a group of kids. All of these things directly effect me and my life, but it’s important to realize that I didn’t get here myself. Two of the most important people in my life who have helped me get to where I am today are my parents, and all my successes can in some way be traced back to them.

The older I get, the more I realize and appreciate all of the sacrifices and commitments my parents made for me. They’ve taught me how to play the game I love, spent countless hours traveling or watching me, and found a way to provide anything I needed. More importantly, they’ve taught me a set of values that I carry with me today. These were learned through lessons as well as just being around and watching them everyday.

My dad taught me from a young age the importance of having a good work ethic and being a man of your word. I remember growing up and being in the gym with him and my siblings. Having him teach the game of basketball and all the lessons that come out of it is an experience I’ll always cherish. When it was time to pick a college, my dad and I traveled basically every weekend for about three months. We had a great setup with an air mattress in the back of the van while one of us, almost always my dad, would drive and the other could sleep. We have so many memories from these trips and impressions about schools, coaches, and restaurants we visited that it makes what were typically ten hour or longer trips worth it. When I finally picked a college, I felt extremely confident I would like it because of all the time my dad had invested in the process with me and I ended up having a great four years at St. John Fisher in all aspects. My dad probably missed a handful of my games throughout the four years I spent in Rochester. There’s no doubt he logged the most miles of any parent in the country. Before every game, I can remember looking into the stands and seeing my dad, and usually a few family members he brought. It may seem simple, but this brought a ton of joy to me and became like a ritual before every game would start.

My mom made most of those long trips with my dad. As a physical therapist she’s helped me with pretty much any injury you can think of. On top of all that, she is still to this day calming me down and assuring me that things will work out. As someone who worries constantly about all sorts of minor things, she has talked me through and helped with countless problems. My mom is one of the most genuinely kind and thoughtful people I know. Like almost too kind to the point where she would offer to help clean my apartment and roommates rooms in college. I can’t post anything to Facebook without her commenting on it. Whenever I introduce a friend to her it’s almost comical how many questions she asks. I’ve learned how to change the subject but if not she could talk for a few days. One word to describe my mother is selfless-she cares about others more than herself, and my siblings and I are lucky to have her. She recently learned how to us a bitmoji so now every day I can expect some type of encouraging message and a picture of her character, which is always a treat.

Coaching this year has made me see the importance that parents and mentors have in the lives of young people. Although none of the kids I coach are ever difficult and it’s there was was ABSOLUTELY no chance I was, I can see how being a parent could be a tough job. I’m grateful for my parents, the people they are and values they carry, and the love, patience, and guidance they continue to provide. Although there’s no way I could ever repay them, providing an excuse to travel to Ireland will be a good start.

Dear DCU Mercy U13 Girls,

I just wanted to take the time to thank you all for such a memorable season. From the start, you guys were eager to learn the game of basketball and you allowed me, a foreigner, to step in and teach you the game I fell in love with at your age. When I was your age, I remember how scared, nervous, and uncomfortable I felt when I first started playing. Nothing made sense and it seemed like I would never understand. However, my coach at the time reassured me that everything was going to be okay because those feelings of apprehension were all part of the process. Taking my own experience, I wanted to make sure that I gave you the same assurance my coach once gave me. In the beginning, all I hoped from all of you was to trust in the process and have faith in me as your coach. With your faith and trust, it pushed me to be the best coach I could try to be. Each day was a new challenge and each one of you took each drill and dedicated yourselves to getting better and better, day by day. From start to finish, I could not be more proud of how you all have developed and improved as players on both the offensive and defensive end. From not knowing what a box out was to see you all box out like beasts and rebound with such determination was exhilarating to watch. Your hustle and heart for the game were truly inspirational and motivated me to do just the same in my own games. Continue to work hard, believe in your abilities and trust your instincts. You all have the potential to be such great players so never give up! Be proud of what you’ve accomplished and always celebrate your successes. Remeber to encourage one another and promote positivity wherever you go. I love you guys and thank you for such an unforgettable season. It was a brilliant success.

Cheers,

Coach Alex

At the start of December, the Ulster scholars and myself attended the Belfast Classic Kickoff Dinner the night before the tournament started. As I was sitting down a fellow table member asked who I was, “Oh hi I am Matthew Bauer…what is your name”. The nice woman proceeded to introduce herself smiling a little while she said, “I am the Lord Mayor of Belfast”. It was at that moment where I realized she had jewels around her neck that I now know the Lord Mayor of Belfast wears. Despite my brief moment of embarrassment, it was a privilege to able to sit next to her and learn her story.

It was not until two months later that I had the opportunity to meet with the Lord Mayor again. Belfast City Council invited the Ulster scholars and the SCL team to City Hall to recognize the work that Sport Changes Life does along with the success of the Belfast Classic. For the City Council to express gratitude for our work in the community and the work that SCL completed in the previous years was a privilege. The recognition shows how far the charity has come as well as how far the charity can go especially with the Belfast Classic as a foundation. All in all, it was a great evening and don’t worry this time I did not ask who the Lord Mayor was to her face!

Cheers,

Matthew

I know the title is very cliche but it’s the truth, you never know whose watching…

This past Tuesday after my practice with my 16 and under team finished one of my players said to me, “Do you know Victoria?” Immediately I replied “no” because I just knew there was no way she was talking about my best friend. She then said, “you posted her on your Instagram the other day about her becoming the all-time leading scorer for Niagara!” I said “oh yeah that’s my best friend lol . No one could have prepared me for the reaction that followed. My player then responded “OMG SHE’S your best friend, she is my idol , I look up to her” I chuckled because I was baffled, I mean it was Victoria we were talking about! 😂

Not because she looked up to her but because how did she even know she existed in the world. Niagara is a small division 1 school. We get no media coverage unless ESPN3 covers the game but that’s rare and oh yeah Victoria is from Canada. She said she saw highlight clips Niagara had posted from one of the games on YouTube and that’s when she began to follow her. I asked her did she want me to FaceTime her so she could speak to her. She said, “OMG please”, “could you”. She and another one of my players spoke to Victoria for about 15 minutes. They were in complete shock , shaking because they were so excited. They were speaking to their idol… They said Tiffany I feel like I’m talking to Kobe Bryant that’s how much I look up to her.. Crazy right ?

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how would have thought that girls from Ireland would be following a girl from a small division 1 school. As athletes it is our duty to inspire the upcoming youth. Even when you think no one is watching they are. A simple hug , one on one game, or in this case FaceTime call can change their lives. So just because you may not go to UConn , or Duke just know there’s a little girl or boy out there inspiring to be the next you !

Bless up

~TC3

Playing sports has without  a doubt blessed me with so many opportunities in life, for instance this current once in a life experience as a Victory Scholar in Northern Ireland that I am experiencing at this very moment. But I want to specifically focus on being more than an athlete in this blog post. In my opinion I think there is a misconception that athletes are just labeled within their sport and that is all they are or ever will be, and the truth is, that is one-hundred percent incorrect. Everyone is different and will have their own opinion on this topic but these are my thoughts. Being labeled as just an athlete is like being put inside a box in which you cannot come out off. Just because these athletes have found something they are good at and have had success in doesn’t mean they should be limited to just that. Honestly before I was an athlete I had way more important titles like a daughter, oldest sister, grand-daughter, friend and so much more, and even now I consider those more important than just labeling myself as an athlete. I think with putting yourself in one category you are hindering your evolvement as a human being and not allowing yourself to grow. Being comfortable continuously depending on the subject matter of course is not always a good thing if you want to move on and adapt in life to bigger and better things. But on the other hand for all those athletes out there who do believe that sports is all they know or have in life, use that to broaden your vision because it is not true, you have much more to offer to the world, even if you don’t know it yet. Continue to rise above the stereotypes in the world we live in today, there are a lot unfortunately but don’t use them as an excuse. Prove to the world or better yet just to the person that matters the most, yourself that you are much more than what comes to the eye of immediate glance.

We all envision ourselves doing certain things, achieving the goals we set for ourselves. We take certain steps to get there, steps we believe are necessary to be successful. And then BAM! A roadblock! We get frustrated with ourselves for not preparing for it. Even worse, we get so mad at ourselves that we forget about all the progress we made up to that point. We don’t give ourselves enough credit for the effort we put in and for the milestones we did meet. We focus so much on the mistakes and the failures. My plan for 2018 has been to refrain from this mindset that has plagued me for years. I had moments of it last semester that affected my performance as a player and a student and most importantly, it affected my ability to appreciate my current experience abroad. But I am grateful for the help and support I’ve received from those I’ve shared this with. And I’m working to manage my thoughts in a more positive and productive way so that I can see the outcomes that I worked hard to achieve. I don’t think I would have reached this level of self-awareness without my experience as a Victory Scholar. Because I am outside of my comfort zone, I get to learn about myself each day: my capabilities, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. And from that, I can develop my best self, ultimately for the kids that I coach and for everyone else in my life. This is a journey and Sport Changes Life is giving me the opportunity to undertake it!

Today I was feeling a little home-sick (for the first time in a while) so I decided to go through old pictures of my family and friends on my laptop. My little sister, Emma, has been my biggest fan through life. Although she’s 8 years younger than me she’s still my best buddy. She’s my little mini me. Each day I see her becoming more and more like me (it’s kind of crazy). I know if it’s in the classroom, everyday life, and especially on the court she’s watching every move I make and trying to copy everything I do. As I’m going through my laptop, one picture reminded me why I am here. Emma is currently a freshman in high school but back when she was just 6 years old she had a class project. She had to nominate someone for her “2013 Woman of the Year”. Most people picked there mothers (sorry mom), but Emma decided to nominate me and she will never know how much that touched me, even to this day.

This is the letter she wrote:

“I would like to nominate Maeve Parahus for 2013 Woman of the Year. She should be nominated because she is a excellent leader for younger kids. This girl is trying to inspire little kids to play basketball. Maeve teaches little kids not to give up and to try their best. She always jokes around and that’s what makes everyone laugh. Maeve is important because she will never get mad or angry if you make a mistake. She cares about if you try or not. Most of the time she’s caring and loyal because she will not give up on you or herself. She will stand up for anyone at anytime. She is beautiful and funny. She always makes people laugh until their brains come out and Maeve is so beautiful, she could wear anything and it will match perfectly with her personality. That is why Maeve Parahus is the 2013 Woman of the Year.”

-Emma Parahus

 

When Emma wrote me this, I was her age. I was a freshman in high school going through everything she is now. Even going back to when I was 14 years old, my 6 year old sister knew I was meant to inspire kids throughout my life. This picture was all I needed to see to keep me going strong these last few months. I knew I was meant to be a Victory Scholar. I knew I was meant to coach and inspire young people through sports. I know that even after this experience living in Ireland, I still will be inspiring children through sports in a physical education classroom and as a coach.

This is another picture I found when I first went to college Emma wrote me. “I am grateful for my sister. She’s always been there for me, even if we had our downs, if I needed her she would come so fast. I look up to her not only as my sister but as my basketball star. We have this bond that is unbreakable. It’s like we could be a million miles apart I could still feel her right next to me.”

So this is a HUGE thank you to the first little girl I ever got to be a role model for. YOU inspire ME to keep on being the best I can be with everything I do in life! Keep on being a super star in the classroom and on the court. I am always so proud of you. I love you #31!

 

So how do you react when the young club team says they’ve never watched Space Jam?? Here’s some emojis to illustrate 😣🙃😲. Probably one of the craziest things I’ve heard! Back home Space Jam was like a requirement for every kid to see… more than once. Even to the point where we were memorizing lines, picking our favorite characters, and of course working on our Jordan dunks. And then when that theme song came on “Everybody get up it’s time to slam now”, it was an automatic singalong and dance session. Even to this day that song gets me hyped. So basically, I was devastated to hear that the girls never watched it before. So my teammate Allyson who coaches some of the girls decided to hold a pizza, pajamas, and Space Jam movie night. I definitely had to be in attendance just to see their reactions. Now I haven’t watched Space Jam in awhile so for some reason watching it this time around was too funny. Allyson and I were laughing so hard as if we never watched the movie before and didn’t know what was coming😅. Guess that’s what happens when you get older, things get funnier lol. Anyway, I was happy that the girls enjoyed the movie because not only is it a cute and funny movie, but it teaches about teamwork and that ever-present theme of never giving up. And just being able to share a piece of my childhood with them was great. Next movie night… High School Musical💃🏽.

 

Yup, that’s right we won not one but all three games !!!!!!!!!! I don’t think there are enough words in the dictionary to describe how I felt after my game. But I will try my best to describe it….

Let’s start with game one of the weekend:

To start off our journey of capturing three titles, Alex and I coached the under 20s team for our club. I knew if we played to our potential the game wouldn’t be close but I was feeling nervous about how I would react if it did come down to a late game situation. Luckily, the Golden State Warriors – the nickname I gave to my team – did what they needed to and cruised to victory winning by a little over 20 points. I was excited for the girls and it was a great way to kick the weekend off. This was my first championship as a coach but for some reason I was in a weird zone. I was there physically but my mind could only think about playing on Sunday.

The following morning I was a spectator as I watched the under 18s team cruise their way to a title. Throughout the game we shouted back and forth with “Glanmire” the team we would be playing the next day. The under 18 game wasn’t as intense, I think we were just using it as a way to throw jabs at each other. When the final buzzer went off my heart began to beat really fast . It was starting to finally hit me, tomorrow was the day that I was going to be playing for a National Cup title.

Nervous!!!!!!!!! Scared!!!!!!! Anxious!!!! Excited!!!!!! Every emotion you could think of was running through my body. I couldn’t sleep that night. I was talking to my best friend through text message and she said, “Tiff you just gotta play your game. Don’t worry about mistakes and things you can’t control, just do you.” Sounds easy, right? But try telling that to a person who’s wide awake at 2:30 am and whose heart is beating non stop with anticipation and excitement. After what felt like hours, I finally fell asleep.

It was GAME DAY ‼️‼️ All of my family was excited, especially my mom. The game would be airing live on TV here in Ireland and all of my family and friends back at home could stream it. It was time to warm up. As I usually do I had my Beats on, listening to music while going through our normal warmup routine. My hands clammy, heart beating, and legs shaking, it was game time.

I won’t walk you through step by step but at the end of the first quarter we were up 19-15 I believe. We went on a run and extended the lead to 8 but in the final four minutes of the second quarter Glanmire stormed back taking the lead by 2 heading into halftime. The third quarter saw a bunch of traded baskets and they would lead by 5 going into the fourth quarter. This was it, now or never! It all came down to this quarter. A few offensive rebounds and stops on the defensive end gave us a one point lead with a one minute and 50 seconds left. A steal by Alex and a flagrant call on Glanmire would put us up 4 with a 1:20 left to go. We got this, right?! Then they scored a basket to cut the lead to two. We would get another chance to score but not succeed. With 33 seconds left I fouled their best player but she would go 1 for 2 from the line. There were now 20 seconds left!!! 20 seconds left to win or lose it all. Still up one, we tried to take the ball out only to have it stolen. At this point all of our parent’s faces were in complete shock. Glanmire shot but missed and we got the rebound. They tripled teamed me but I somehow threw the ball down court to Alex, and she passed it to my teammate Brognah. But Glanmire stole the ball again!!!! Now with 6 seconds left they were running down the court with the ball. One pass, two pass…

Shot

……….silence

It felt like the longest shot of my life. Glanmire’s best player who was 5 for 6 from the three that day just shot a three to win the game. A feeling of sadness began to enter my body. We fought hard but it just didn’t go our way. I looked away and closed my eyes. My heart was in my stomach as the screams let out. The screams sound familiar, like people I knew. I did know these people, the screams were ones of excitement from my own teammates! She missed, she missed the shot!!! We won!!! OMG we just won the National Cup by 1 point. I ran around the arena in excitement, I couldn’t believe it. My one teammate had been waiting 15 years for this moment! I wanted to laugh, cry, scream, and jump. It had been a while since I last won a championship. Amazed, grateful, proud, blessed, relieved, ecstatic. Those are just a few of the words to describe how I was feeling at that moment. I put that gold medal around my neck. For my teammates, my family, and my supporters, we did it!!

It’s been a few days and I still can’t believe it … I won a National Cup title.. I’m an Ireland champion.

Wow.

Bless up

~ TC3

I decided to write this next blog about my best friends. I just wanted to thank them for all the support they have given me. I think everyone needs a friend they could call on , no matter what it is…

To Nicole ,

I look forward to your FaceTime call every morning at 11 am 😩 No matter how my morning started I always receive that phone call that changes my mood for the day. That is always followed by a call at 10p.m. I’m usually just getting out of practice and she’s just getting off of work.. Even though majority of our phone calls is me listening to her , it’s something I look forward to each day 😂😂😂

To Tor ,

Our conversations start each day through our Snapchat streak. We always have some type of news to share with each other.. With us both having school and basketball we still make it work..

Lord knows I miss the heck out of both of you. You are my voice of reason. When I feel like I can’t keep going I’ll call one of you guys and you make what I feel is the impossible seem possible. I truly thank you guys for all the support you have given me not only since my time here in Ireland but throughout our entire friendship. I couldn’t picture my life without you guys.. You are my biggest supporters but you also tell me when I am wrong. 3 more months until we are reunited.. I figured since today is Valentines Day and you guys are single I’d dedicate my blog to you 😂😂😂😂

Happy Valentines Day Best friends,

I love y’all 💕❤️❤️❤️

Bless up

-TC3

As I began my senior year at Colgate I began looking and jobs and contemplating potential career paths for the future. I found some jobs that would be incredible, but I knew that I had some unfinished business to take care of before I entered the workplace. I tore my ACL my junior year and had to miss the entire session to recover. Basketball had be a part of my life since I was six years old, and I wasn’t ready to give it up quite yet. I considered using my fifth year of eligibility at another school and getting a masters because pursing my education was a priority and I knew I wanted to go back to school eventually. There were great opportunities in America; however, when the opportunity to go abroad, play basketball, coach, and get my masters presented itself I couldn’t not take advantage. I was unable to go abroad during my time at Colgate because the basketball season fell in both semesters, so I knew I wanted to travel if I had the means. I had the opportunity to do an exchange in Spain when I was in high school and go to New Zealand with the Colgate team the summer going into my junior year, and I appreciated all that I could learn from immersing myself in the culture rather than just learning about it. Fortunately, Colgate is a part of the Patriot League, and the Patriot League has a great relationship with Sport Changes Life, so I was able to learn even more about the program. Once I was accepted into the program I had to embrace the opportunity because I have my whole life to find a job that a love, but right now I had an opportunity to go to Ireland and make a difference, and I am so happy that I made the decision to become a Victory Scholar.

While I have been in Ireland I have tried to embrace every opportunity and obstacle that has been presented and thrown my way. I am the only Victory Scholar in Maynooth, which I was initially nervous about, but it has actually been a blessing in disguise. Being entirely on my own, I have been forced to garner a new sense of independence and step even further outside of my comfort zone. I have made great friends in Maynooth, become incredibly close with the community I live and coach in, have gained a new family in Portlaoise, and am still fortunate enough to have my Victory Scholar friends only a train ride away.

I am getting a masters in Business Management, which is very different than my undergraduate degree, which was Political Science, but it has helped me gain a better understanding of economics, finance, and international business. Also, just getting a masters in a different country forces me to have an international perspective, which actually compliments my undergraduate degree very well.

I also love that basketball still plays such a large role in my life this year. Basketball has helped me through so much in my life and has brought me to so many great people and opportunities, it is only right that I end my career in a new place. I play not only with the Portlaoise Panthers in the Super League, but also with my college team in Maynooth. I have also coached at five schools, the Kilcock club, and at the Maynooth Academy, and I have been able to reach hundreds of kids. One of the best feelings is walking into a school, or on the street and have a kid come up to me and give me a hug and ask when I am coming in next. Basketball has done so much for me and I am so honored that I can share the sport that I love so much with so many great people.