So if anyone has watched Courage the Cowardly Dog you’ll get this reference. It’s one of my family’s favorite cartoon because this poor dog does everything to save the lives of his loved ones in every episode and always ends up saying, “the things I do for love”. Now I can’t compete with Courage’s heroism, but I felt the same when I was going back home for winter break. Traveling 2 hours from Waterford to Dublin, 6 hours from Dublin to Boston, 4 hours from Boston to NYC, and 1 hour from NYC to NJ. Granted this is all my doing because I was being “frugal” and the flight to Boston was cheaper at the time (I should have factored in the opportunity cost). Regardless, I wanted to get home and surprise my family this holiday. I initially was convinced that I was staying in Ireland during the break to do some exploring. But, I’ve never been away from home during the holidays and so a part of me didn’t want to break the tradition. The other part was being persuaded by mom who was “mad” I wasn’t coming home asking, “why aren’t you coming home, we miss you?” 😂. Only she would react that way. She also threatened that she wouldn’t be putting up the Christmas decorations because it wouldn’t feel like Christmas without me home…. super dramatic lol. But, I understood what she meant by it and I honestly felt the same way.

So I headed home and I was able to surprise my family! My dad opened the door and just kept repeating “wow!” and gave me a hug. My sister was of course in my room and she just looked at me like “oh boy, what is she doing here” (she loves me though I promise). And then the funniest was my mom who was asleep in her room, so I woke her up and she said, “what the heck, how??” and gave me a big hug.

It definitely felt great to be home and be around family and friends for a bit, just to recharge and catch up. Being able to laugh at my dad’s corny jokes, watch some basketball and the Real Housewives of Atlanta with him, bother my sister and play Sims 4 with her, and just talk and watch TV with my mom was worthwhile. Also, I was able to chef it up back home. I made some baked chicken and a roast for Christmas. I also made some cookies, but unfortunately burned those🤦🏾‍♀️.

Super happy to have spent the holidays home, but I am also looking forward to Round 2 here in Ireland and hoping to continue to improve and go on a few adventures this next semester.

As 2017 comes to an end, Dom and I decided to wander off to Holywood Golf Club to get a couple holes in. For those who don’t know, Holywood is the home course of golfing legend Rory Mcllroy. Thanks to Sport Changes Life, The Rory Foundation and all the work the fellow golf scholars do at the course, I was able to get on no problem.

As I approached the first tee box, I completely whiffed on my first attempt at the ball. Then on my next swing, I absolutely crushed the ball but unfortunately, it landed about 50 yards to the left deep in the woods. After hitting multiple bad shots, mixed with a good one here and there my confidence began to grow. On the par 5 11th hole, I crushed a drive up the fairway and then rolled my next shot about 20 yards down the fairway. Then I took an iron right up to the top of the green and chipped in for my first every birdie! If anybody was watching they would have called it luck and I wouldn’t have disagreed, but a birdie is a birdie and I was hype regardless.

As my basketball career is coming to an end, I look forward to learning more about the game of golf and using Kristen and Dominic as useful resources of help over the next couple of months. I went from missing the ball completely, to finishing the day with a birdie. My birdie was on the 11th hole, but decided to end the day and a high note and not move onto the 12th hole.

(Here is a picture taken by my roommate Dom Diaz, for anybody who reads this far into my blog. I will fill you in on a secret, I didn’t actually hit this ball, and it isn’t my real swing. 100% just did this for Instagram)

As we were setting up for the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic, I was pulled away from carrying cases of water to storage and told I was going to be part of breaking a world record. That upgrade is job status seemed way too good to be true, but it was. Dave Hopla, some may know him by “The Shot Doctor”, was going to attempt to break the world record of 26 free throws in one minute, with one ball, one passer, and one shooter. An important note, I wasn’t his rebounder, I was his “passer”.  The only way it is considered to be a rebound is if you miss, and Dave Hopla simply didn’t miss. So that is why I was his “passer” and not rebounder during this process.

Anytime there was an empty court from teams coming in and out from gameday walkthroughs and shootarounds, Dave would call me over to practice. This guy literally wouldn’t miss, in a practice session, he would consistently make over 50+ shots in a row. Over the period of the next two days, I was the passer for over a thousand shots for Dave Hopla, and I lost a thumbnail in the process. During practice, we reached the mark of 26 made free throws in 1-minute multiple times.

Seen above is a picture from live action from when I was passing for Dave Hopla during halftime of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic. The pressure of being a passer is very high when one drop of a ball could cause 9,000+ fans to go into a BOOOing frenzy. How do you think I did? You can be a judge when you see the video. Unfortunately, we didn’t break the record and ended up making 26 free throws, which is one short of the record. Regardless that is still pretty amazing if you ask me.

The alarm clock went off at 4:30 A.M. on December 21^st and it was a surreal feeling knowing that after four months I was going home for Christmas break. Fellow victory scholar Tiffany Corselli and I packed our last things and took a taxi to Dublin Airport and went our separate ways. Once I boarded the plane it was finally starting to sink in that I was going home. I couldn’t help but reflect on all of the great memories and experiences that I had in the first semester. The plane ride seemed like it was an eternity, as it was the first time I had ever been away from home for an extended period of time. I was really anxious to see family and friends, which made the seven hour flight seem like twelve. The plane finally landed in Newark Airport around 11:30 A.M. and I was officially home for break.

It was an eventful and at times chaotic 10 days while I was home as I tried my best to see everyone I possibly could before heading back. I was able to see some friends I hadn’t seen since graduation and some family that I had not seen since last Christmas. My parents celebrated their 25^th anniversary and renewed their vows and two of my close friends got engaged. Being home with my family was especially nice for Christmas and we got to take our annual matching pajama picture (shown above). I also received a championship ring from Saint Peter’s to commemorate our MAAC Championship last season. However the best part about being home was surprising my grandparents. I am extremely close with them and they had no clue that I was going to be home for Christmas. Unfortunately we had some technical difficulties and I couldn’t get the moment on video.

As great as it was to be home and see family and friends, I am extremely excited to be back at Ulster. I cannot wait to continue this journey and get back into our community outreach programs with coaching and eHoops. Of course none of this would be possible without our great sponsors, so thank you again to Sport Changes Life, The Rory Foundation, and Aer Lingus.

Hey guys !!!!

So I know it’s been a while but school and basketball picked up so much! December was a great month though! My team won its quarterfinal game to advance to the semifinal of the playoffs🙌🏼 I got to attend the first ever Belfast classic and boy was that a goodie. Even though I was sad to see Manhattan lose at the buzzer (It’s a MAAC thing) what a shot by that Towson player ! It was also nice to catch up with the fellow Victory Scholars since I was unable to attend the Thanksgiving dinner.

I then went into grind mode for school , having six huge assignments due in a two week span. I think I averaged 4 hours a sleep a day for that two week period. It was hard I won’t lie. Many times I thought “is this for me” ? But I stuck with it and got everything completed 🙌🏼

It was then vacation time !!!!!!!!! I decided to travel around Europe instead of going home for Christmas. I met up with fellow Victory scholars Kenz, Shannon and Chaz in Amsterdam. From there Kenz, Shannon and I headed to Berlin and then Prague. The Anne Frank house in Amsterdam is a must. It really was touching to finally see what I have read about it. Also the pancake factory was amazing I recommend that as a spot to eat at. From there we took a bus to Berlin. We did a bike tour around the city which I totally recommend you do it was worth every cent. We saw the Berlin Wall , Charlie’s check point , Brandenburg Gate, Jewish Memorial and so much more. Prague was absolutely stunning. There’s no other word to describe the city but gorgeous😍 Definitely a place you must visit !

Welp, now it’s time for me to start studying for my finals ! My exams start this week so please pray for me 🙏🏽 I’ll be back to let y’all know how they went …

~ Bless up

TC3

This weekend, Jas and I had off from basketball so we decided to venture to Northern Ireland and explore some of the areas we haven’t had a chance to see before. In the past, when we were in Northern Ireland we stayed in the Belfast area, so I was excited to have some time and see some of the landscape.  They offer a lot of different tours around the coast of Northern Ireland, but we decided to do the Game of Thrones Tour.  For those of you who don’t know, a lot of the scenes from the series were filmed in Northern Ireland.

So we set off on our all day adventure to see some of the most beautiful parts of the North.  Even though it turned out to be a long day, it was definitely worth it! The tour took us all over!  The drive up was very scenic and showed all of the Antrim Coast. Our first stop was in Carnlough Village, which was a small little town with a beautiful waterfront.

Next, we ventured up the coast some more and came to the Cushendun Caves. These caves were quite remarkable and fixed right at the edge of the little town.

We then made it to my favorite stop of the trip, Giants Causeway.  This place is incredible and something I suggest everyone who visits Northern Ireland to take the time to do.  The rocks on the coast here are naturally circular shaped, and it feels like you are in another world when you are at the Causeway.

After we spent a good amount of time at Giants Causeway, we headed to Carrick-A-Rede to cross the rope bridge.  Leading up to this stop, I was so excited to cross the bridge.  Unfortunately, when I got there my fear of heights kicked in and I chickened out of going across! Lets just say it was a little higher than I had imagined, and a little too wobbly for me.  But the view there was still worth the stop for me!

Lastly, we made our final stop at the Dark Hedges.  This road also makes you feel like you are in another world because the trees that line the road are so unique and spooky.

Overall, I had a great day in Northern Ireland! If anyone is looking for something to do in Northern Ireland, I highly suggest the Game of Thrones tour, even ifyou have never seen the show it doesn’t matter because the places they take you will take your breathe away.

Stay tuned for a video about my trip soon!

-Meg

As I returned back from America to Ireland, I was struck by the reality that I only have five months left here. Five months left of coaching, five months left of class, five months left playing with the Panthers, five months left with all of the Scholars, and five months left exploring this beautiful country. I only have five months left in Ireland and I intent to embrace every moment I have here. I actually had this first weekend back in Ireland free, so I decided what better way to spend my time, and help overcome my nagging jet lag, then go on an adventure and reunite with some Victory Scholar friends.

Meghan and Jas, two other Victory Scholars, made the long journey up from Waterford and met my teammate Steph, from the Portlaoise Panthers, and me in Dublin. We then took another bus to Belfast, and then a train to Jordanstown, where we met our friends at Ulster. We spent the afternoon catching up and exchanging stories about our holidays. That night we made our way to Belfast to watch the Belfast Giants hockey game. I was excited that the Ulster Scholars already intended on going to the game because there are two Colgate alums that play for the Giants, and I love supporting Colgate whenever I can. My friend, who actually graduated with me this past year, got the rest of our group complementary tickets to the game, so we were all able to go and watch the game together. The game was packed and there was such a fun environment in the arena. The Giants ended up winning 4-1 and my friend proudly represented Colgate when he scored the first goal of the game!

All of the Scholars have been fortunate enough to spend a decent amount of time in Belfast because that is where the SCL headquarters are based, but we never got to explore further north, so five of us took this opportunity to do the Game of Thrones tour. Although I have never seen one episode of Game of Thrones, I was blown away with the beautiful sites and rich history in the area. On our tour we saw Carnlough Village, Cushendun Caves, Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Larrybane, and the Dark Hedges. My personal favorite was Giant’s Causeway because it is so unique and I was blown away with the fact that it was naturally created from either volcanic eruption, or the popular myth that the giant Finn McCool created the site when he was enraged with another giant. I also really enjoyed the Rope Bridge because we actually got to walk across the bridge that hung above the water and several sharp rocks. Although I was slightly more scared than I had initially anticipated, I really enjoyed the walk across the bridge and the view around it. This weekend was so much fun, and it really started off the second half of my year right! I cannot wait for all of the other adventures that these next five months hold!

I had the privilege of traveling to three countries with my roommate before I traveled home for the holidays and it’ll definitely be a week I will never forget. Throughout our travels my roommates and I made some great memories that I’m sure we’ll look back on and laugh.

First, we traveled to Amsterdam, which was by far my favorite city compared to the other two. I enjoyed every bit of Amsterdam from the beautiful canals to the intriguing biking that all the natives do there. I was honestly in awe when it came to their transportation because a lot of it was on bikes and it was so fascinating to me I could not get over it. They biked in the cold, the rain, all different ages biked, all hours of the day they biked, there were even bike lanes and traffic lights just for bikes. It was mesmerizing to me. The feel of Amsterdam had a sense of class and I really enjoyed it.

Our next city was Cologne, Germany and if you want to fill your belly up with some amazing food well Cologne is perfect for that desire. Cologne has the most wonderful Christmas Markets that have so many little trinkets, and amazing food. The markets were definitely my number one culprit of stealing all my money. Cologne, also had the most beautiful Cathedral that you could walk in and explore as well as climb over 500 steps to the top to lookout at the city which we did. Being able to be in Germany around the Christmas holiday to enjoy their awesome Christmas markets was a great experience and I’m glad I can say I did it.

Our last stop was Prague and boy was this city pretty. The views that each city offered us were amazing but Prague just had a little bit more. The view you got when you walked across the Charles Bridge was stunning but the best view was when we climbed the hills and steps to get to the Prague Castle because you were then able to lookout at the city and the sight was beautiful. Prague was also notorious to me for taking all my money away because they too had Christmas Markets which had great food.

Throughout our travels we definitely had some highs and lows but they all will be memories that my roommate and I will be able to cherish forever. I am extremely glad to say I was able to explore Europe for the first time and add some stamps to my Passport. I never thought I would be able to travel so early in my life and without Sport Changes Life none of these experiences would be happening and I am extremely blessed and grateful for them.

I had a great time at home for the holidays. It was so nice to see my friends and family again after being a whole world away for a few months! I’ve been back in Ireland for a few days now, so I thought for my blog this week, I’d tell you my 10 favorite things about Letterkenny.

1. My landlord, Ed Cassidy, and his amazing family: Marina, Kellie, and Luke. Chaz, Mak, Jon, and I live a stone’s throw away from my landlord and his family. If we’re not at school, coaching, or playing basketball we are at his house – I wish I was kidding! When my parents visited, my Mom jokingly said that she felt as if she was on episode of Seinfeld because of how welcoming and comfortable the Cassidy’s make their home to us. Sometimes, I can’t even believe that I’ve only known them for a few short months, but I know this family will be in my life and heart forever!
2. The Leadley family: Attracta, Adam, Michael, Max, Anna, and Thea. Similar to the Cassidy’s, the Leadley’s have opened their home to us as well. Now if we’re not at school, coaching, playing basketball, OR at the Cassidy’s, you can most likely find us at the Leadley’s. The Leadley’s are great “craic”. They take care of us in so many different ways, I truly will never be able to thank them for all that they do! We’ve spent a few Sunday nights in their home for dinner and b eing able to end the week with people who have become like family is so incredible – it’s helped me appreciate the little things in life more.
3. Burrito Loco. For anyone that knows me, they are aware that I am a die-hard Chipotle fan. Ireland does not have a single Chipotle, BUT Letterkenny has an amazing take-away Mexican restaurant that fills my burrito-bowl-loving void.
4. My landlord’s dog, Buster. My family has 3 dogs, one who has been with us since I was about 6 years old, Dale. Buster reminds me of each of our dogs in small, different ways. He makes it feel like a piece of home is always in my backyard here in Letterkenny!
5. The atmosphere on campus is always so welcoming! It’s a tight-knit college community and I really enjoy my Master’s course as well. We start our work placements next semester and I’m looking forward to being able to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom!
6. The Warehouse. This is probably one of my favorite restaurants of all-time. The food is great and they have live music every night! How can you beat that?!
7. My backyard. Our backyard overlooks the whole city of Letterkenny and words cannot even begin to describe how breathtaking the view is. It makes walking home one of my favorite parts of every day!
8. The community. I’m not exaggerating when I say that everyone we’ve come across since the moment we arrived in Letterkenny has been extremely helpful and openhearted. From our teammates and classmates, to the kids we coach and the community leaders, even our cab drivers, everyone has contributed in some way, shape, or form to making Letterkenny feel like home.
9. Beans for breakfast. Okay, as weird as it may sound, having beans for breakfast has become one of my favorite things since I’ve been in Ireland. Having beans for breakfast is a norm here, so I tried them one day and I will never look back!
10. My roommates Jon, Chaz, and Makenzie. I could write a small novel about how much these 3 mean to me (I’ll eventually write a blog about them!), but these things that I love about Letterkenny would not be as important to me if I did not have these guys by my side (I would probably still eat beans for breakfast though LOL). Life is more beautiful when you’re with people who care and want the best for you. I’m incredibly excited to see where this next semester takes all of us!

For starters, I just finished off 2017 with possibly the greatest and most memorable trip of my life. Thanks to Sport Changes Life, I spent 2 weeks in 7 different cities in 5 countries, something I probably will never get a chance to do again.

This trip truly helped me recognize ALL the benefits of being a victory scholar. Going into the program, I knew I would be able to coach and inspire younger kids through sport, continue to play basketball at a competitive level, and receive a great education through a masters program; but, there is even more that I discovered. Sport Changes Life also allows for adventure. We had a small Christmas break from coaching, mentoring, and basketball, which is plenty of time to travel and experience different parts of the world one could dream to see.

I forever will have memories of the gorgeous mountains of Hallstatt, Austria and panoramic views of Prague, Czech Republic. The scenery can never be portrayed through a picture as well as the views in person, and I am so honored to have been able to have that opportunity.

In the end of my trip, I will say Ireland is still my favorite country out of all the places I’ve been to outside of America. The combination of beautiful green hills and mountains with the generous and friendly culture cannot be matched. I am so thankful to be able to live and work in the communities of such a great place for an entire year. I now understand why many people choose to stay in Ireland and never return back to America after Sport Changes Life.

 

 

When a good portion of my friends studied abroad a few years ago, I was envious of their travels, their stories and their memories. I couldn’t study abroad a full semester due to a demanding fall and spring golf schedule, but thanks to Sport Changes Life, I now get to call Northern Ireland my home for a little, giving me easy access to Europe when time allows. I finished 2017 on a high note traveling to three different European cities with one of my roommates and fellow Victory Scholar, Natalya.

Amsterdam

Our first stop was to one of the most famous cities in The Netherlands. Upon arrival, Nat and I kept saying how we couldn’t believe we were in another country and we were really about to spend the next six days experiencing different cultures and eating different cuisines. While in Amsterdam, we visited the Anne Frank House, which was such a tragically inspiring place to see. The history in the house and the stories told were so compelling, I had goosebumps practically the whole time. We also visited the Heineken Brewery and got to experience the history of an iconic beer which also included a boat tour where we got to see the beautiful city from the canal. Amsterdam wasn’t all glamourous though, I unfortunately got my phone stolen, but thanks to Nat’s reassuring and calm demeanor I was able to quickly get a replacement (also thank you Mom & Dad for talking me through how to handle this situation as an “adult”).

Germany

Our second stop was to Cologne, Germany. Cologne is a smaller city compared to Berlin or Munich, but we researched and discovered that some of the best Christmas markets were in Cologne. The city definitely didn’t disappoint. Our second day there we hit nearly 25,000 steps as we went to four different Christmas markets and climbed the 600 steps to the top of the Cologne Cathedral. We also may or may not have gotten lost for a wee bit, but with some collaboration and help from friends we met along the way, we managed to find our way back.

Prague

Our trip concluded in a Prague and this city was my personal favorite. Not only was the city itself beautiful, but the Christmas markets created an atmosphere that transported me to the North Pole. We spent a few hours both days at their main Christmas market in Old Town Square and of course tried numerous traditional Czech dishes. Our time in Prague also included visits to an ice bar, the John Lennon Wall and the Charles Bridge.

There were a few bumps in the road, but nothing we couldn’t handle. Traveling has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, so although I wasn’t able to spend Christmas at home in the States like I traditionally do, spending a part of the Christmas season in Europe was an experience I will never forget. I look forward to exploring more European cities (& keeping a better eye on my personal belongings) in 2018!

Happy New Year to all my family and friends back home, and to the new friends I’ve made while abroad! A special thank you to Sport Changes Life and the Rory Foundation for continuously supporting us scholars and providing us with this opportunity.

This Christmas break was such an amazing experience. I went to Ghana, Africa to visit my grandmother. I originally was going to go home to the United States for break but then I realized, I’m probably never going live only 8 hours away from my grandmother again. Flying to her from the U.S would be like a 14 hour flight, so I decided to take full advantage of being so close and see her. During my time there I learned so much. So much about myself, about Africa, about the U.S, about my ancestors…. it truly was unforgettable. My grandmother showed me so much of Ghana and yet we didn’t even scratch the surface. The things it has to offer is limitless.

Before arriving I unconsciously had this picture of Africa in my mind. It was a negative image that many people seem to have (especially Americans). “It’s dirty. It’s uncivilized. People live in huts. They live in trees. It’s dangerous. Etc etc”. First I’d like to address something a lot of people seem to forget, Africa is a continent, not a country. It’s composed of 54 countries and 100s of languages and dialects. So yeah there are some parts where people live in huts but guess what, that’s their business. Yes there are some places that are rather unsafe but, so are certain parts of the United States and Ireland. People need to stop listening to the media, and miseducated individuals and do some actual research before they form an opinion on something. Or better yet, it’s okay to have an opinion, but if it’s not one that’s backed up by facts, and just comes from a place of ignorance and bigotry, I think their best kept to themselves.

I fell asleep in a hammock while reading a book. I washed my feet in the ocean after visiting a slave dungeon. I learned about the history of my ancestors both good and terrifying. For 10 days I laid in the sun. For 10 days I ate fresh fruit and vegetables. For 10 days I was surrounded by my people. I didn’t feel out of place. I was able to walk down the street without getting stared at because of the color of my skin. I wasn’t constantly being reminded of my color and met with ignorant comments (“can I touch your hair”, “you’re a pretty black girl”) like I am in Ireland or the U.S. That kind of stuff eventually takes a toll on a person. I understand “being the bigger person” and “not letting that kind of stuff get to you” but… imagine not having to take the higher road. Not having to “just ignore them”. Imagine just not being put in that situation in the first place! It’s a really great feeling..

I loved my trip to Ghana. I loved going to Africa. I loved being able to spend my Christmas break with my grandmother and her fiancé. I can go on and on about the beauty of Ghana, and about my experiences but… its really something you need to experience for yourself to really get it.

As an African American I have been brain washed into thinking America is my home. It’s not. Ireland is currently my country of residence, the United States is where I was born, but Africa is my homeland. And I have all intentions on returning as soon as possible.

I am currently sitting back in my favorite Cafe in Carlow after a wonderful Christmas break spent home in New York.

Reflecting back on my journey here I can’t help but think about how I really have grown so much since August. Even the smallest things have affected me. At home I’ve always shared a room with my sister Caroline, and at Manhattan College I’ve always had a roommate. I learned to be in my own room and embrace it (I never thought I’d say this but I kind of like it). I got sick for a few days while here and I went to the doctors by myself for the first time ever! Yes, I know I’m 22 but my mom is my rock and she comes everywhere with me. Believe it or not I’ve never had to do my own grocery shopping in my life! At home, I always relied on my parents to cook for me (of course it was delicious), and in college I used the cafeteria meal plan for all my meals. Living on my own has left me to pick up groceries, cook, use public transportation, laundry, clean, etc, for myself. These small seemingly unimportant changes to some people (that might make me sound a little lazy) were a big step in life for me personally. I have become independent and comfortable with coming out of my comfort zone to learn new things, meet new friends, and become the person I want to be. It has also gave me a HUGE appreciation for all my parents have done for me. This journey so far has given me a purpose to be a mentor and role model to young children and prepared me to my goal in the next step of my life as I plan on becoming a Physical
Education teacher. I love the mission I am accomplishing here and it is something I will carry close with me throughout my life, “Sport Changes Life”. Sport has changed my life and I absolutely love being a positive role model to other kids hoping for the same results I have got through sports.

Being home for Christmas was exactly what I needed. To see my all my family members and friends I couldn’t help but smile the entire time I was home. I also got the chance to get some of the foods I missed from home! There are so many exciting things I got to experience while being home but heres a list of a few…

-I got to see my little sister Emma play in 2 high school varsity games
-Went to Elf on Broadway (I would advise people to go next year, it was so good!)
-Got to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
-Spent some quality time with my grandpas, Poppy and Da
-Christmas Day being spent at my house with my family, cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles
-Going out to my favorite restaurant, Don Coqui!
-Being able to see Tyler’s high school jersey be retired
-Going to see Manhattan get there first MAAC win of the season against St. Peter’s
-Getting to see my old high school and college coaches
-Reconnecting with high school friends I haven’t seen in a while
-Eating Egg and Cheese bagels every morning
-Getting chipotle and sushi for the first time in a long time

Living in Ireland for a few months already has given me a new appreciation and outlook on life in general. The goodbye’s at the end of my trip is never easy but knowing I have a family member or friend coming just about every month is pretty cool! I love showing them how beautiful Ireland is and showing off my new home. Although it would have been nice to travel, I’m so glad I got to visit everyone for the holidays.

I returned to Carlow this morning feeling energized to finish out these last 5 months of my Irish journey. I know how fast this time can go so I am going to enjoy and embrace every second of it!

Oh what a difference a year makes. I can remember this time last year daydreaming about playing basketball again, pursuing something greater than myself, and traveling the world. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this roller coaster of a year it’s that life is simply to short to not go after what you want. It’s so easy to settle into a comfortable routine and lose sight of what sets your heart on fire and truly inspires you. While my crippling fear of complacency can sometimes drive me crazy, I recognize that it is also what has lead me to my greatest adventures. This holiday season I decided to not go home despite desperately missing my family and friends and instead travel across Europe. I traveled to five countries and seven cities with my roommate and fellow victory scholars, collecting memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.

Some of the highlights of my trip included; overlooking Amsterdam at night from the highest swing in Europe, satisfying my World War II obsession with a historical bike tour of Berlin, attending Christmas Mass at the beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, falling in love with the town of Hallstatt, Austria, visiting all of the original Sound of Music filming locations in Salzburg, sipping coffee at one of the oldest cafes in Vienna, and attending a New Years Eve party at the infamous thermal baths in Budapest. There were some not so glamorous parts of traveling too, like sleeping in hostels, missing busses, realizing that I accidentally booked the wrong air bnb last minute, getting ripped off at the grocery store and by cab drivers. But these slight annoyances were all part of what made these past few weeks life changing. This Christmas I replaced material things with experiences and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

While New Years is meant to be about resolutions and making changes, I can’t help but approach 2018 with the same mentality that made 2017 so memorable. For me this year is about following my heart and never settling for a life I’m not proud of. It’s about taking more chances, welcoming uncertainty, and letting go of old traditions in order to experience new ones. There are countless things I hope to improve and work on this year, and that will always be the case. But this holiday season for the first time I’m choosing to celebrate what made the past year so fulfilling; making the absolute most out of life and this opportunity i’ve been given.

Cheers to the next 365,

Shannon

So I am back in Ireland after being able to spend the holidays at home with my family. It was a great Christmas and snowed basically everyday!  I had a great couple of days at home and even had a chance to go back to New York and visit my college.  It was so nice getting to visit with old teammates and coaches and also getting to see the new facilities Siena has added to the gym.  I wish I could’ve stayed longer, but I am so excited for my family to visit me here in Ireland in a few months!

Reflecting on this past year, it has definitely had some ups and downs, but overall i would say it was a great year. I started the year off playing my last game ever as a Siena Saint. That was hard because the four years I spent playing in that jersey were some of the best years of my life.  I am truly grateful for my years at Siena and for all the people who made my time there so enjoyable.  Midyear, I graduated and shortly after found out that I had been accepted to be a Victory Scholar for Sport Changes Life!  This was definitely a high point of the year because I was so excited my basketball career wasn’t over yet and I would be able to coach as well as obtain my masters at the same time.  It really was the best news of the year for me! So come August it was time to say goodbye to my family and friends and head off to Ireland.  I can honestly say that my experience here so far has been great. Everyone at the SCL family really makes you feel welcome and are very inspiring listening to them talk about the program. My fellow Scholars have also been great, ever since we landed it feels like we are all one big family.  Ireland has become a home away from home and that is all due to the people.  The Wildcats especially have been so kind to Jas and I here in Waterford.  I cannot wait to see what the new year has in store for the next 5 months left here in Ireland.

-Meg

This holiday season I had the incredibly rewarding experience of traveling throughout this great continent of Europe. I think this might be the first time I ever admit this but… through the wise counsel of my older brother Sean, albeit to my mother’s chagrin, I had to take advantage of my current destination and use this winter holiday to travel abroad. From Prague to Budapest and Amsterdam to Paris, I had the unique pleasure of awe inspiring sights, smells, and sounds offered by each historic city.

What truly made this holiday great was the people I shared it with. Although I did not come back to the states, I still had the enriching experience sharing my travels with friends and family from home. My dad and two older brothers came to visit and thus began the start of my journey. We missed Johnny G and mother dearly but we still somehow managed to have our fun :). Staying true to who I am and what got me here to this day, the holiday first began in the gym. Before setting off, I played a basketball game in front of my brothers and father for what most likely was the last time. With school and basketball all wrapped up, it was time for the long awaited holiday!

The first destination on the list was Prague. “The City of a Hundred Spires” had a magical feel to it characterized by its gothic old town. The square was electric filled with its festive Christmas market, offering the delicacies of its rich culture. Like straight from a movie, we wandered the cobblestone alleyways as large snowflakes fell straight down upon us. From colorful boroque buildings to delectable schnitzels and pilsners, we managed to soak in the best of Prague and boarded a train to Budapest. Our next city had some of the most facinating structures I have ever seen. From the collosal St. Stephen’s Basilica to the magnificent Parliament building, Budapest sat grandly upon the Danube, Europe’s second longest river. At night, each historic building was cascaded with a gold light that captured the eye. Just as quickly as it came, my time with my family came to an end and I said goodbye to continue my travels.

This second part of my trip was spent with a little part of my Emory family. I arrived in Amsterdam and met up with one of my best friends Miles and his family, where his sister spent the semester studying. I was lucky enough to take in the artistic culture and elaborate canals with a special friend from my days in Atlanta. My time with him capped off with an all you can eat feast celebrated with his family. It was time to say goodbye as I packed my little bag and headed on my way.

But before I arrived in Paris, I made a little day trip to the wonderful city of Bruges. It was a perfect stop along the way as I even got to celebrate Christmas with a friend from home. All the way from Fawn Hill, one of my brother’s closest friends and his family happened to be in Bruges on that day as well. A little planning and great timing, I was lucky enough to spend a Christmas meal with a great friend and family. Well nourished and excited I made my way to this little city you might know, Paris…. ( to be continued).

Nothing is better than being home with family during the holidays. This past week I have been lucky enough to be home in Cleveland with my family and friends for Christmas. This time at home has been filled with visits with the family, high school reunions, and dinners with childhood friends. Although I talk to my family every week, being with them in incomparable. We made delicious food and played silly board games, but most importantly we just spend time catching up. We had especially a lot to catch up on this year because I had to tell everyone about all of my adventures in Ireland and show them all of my pictures. A few traditions that I was happy that we could still maintain this year is a Christmas Eve brunch at my best friend Kate’s, Christmas Day brunch at my Aunt’s house with my cousin, and a big Christmas dinner with most of my family.

Christmas is truly one of the best times of the year because most of my friends travel back from various US states and countries around the world to spend a few amazing days where we all grew up. After high school most of my friends dispersed around the country, and even the world, to attend college, but around the holidays we always managed to make it home for a few days for a much needed reunion. During college, I was only ever able to come home for three days during Christmas because the break aligned with one of the busiest times of our season, so I appreciated the additional time I got to spend at home this year. Most of my friends now work and live all over the US, but Cleveland is our original home, so we still manage to make our way back during the holidays. I have loved my time at home, but I am so excited to get back to Ireland and start my second semester of my masters program, continue to coach, and have our basketball team make our mark in the Super League for the remainder or our season!

 

When my parents arrived on Friday December 1st, I was so excited! It was literally like Christmas morning.  Right at 1pm I rushed out of my class, walked as fast as I could to my apartment in hopes they were there.  They weren’t.  I thought to myself hmmm where could they be.  Their flight arrived at 6am to Dublin, at most three hours and breakfast, they should be in Cork by 11am.  I waited till 2:15pm and finally got a call from the front desk of my complex saying that my parents arrived.  So obviously the first question was, what happened? Apparently they got lost from bad directions they received.  They somehow ended up in Wexford, and whenever they said that to the natives, all they would do is laugh and ask how?  Finally they were in Cork though and were ready to tour and enjoy their visit to the Emerald Isle.

On our first night the parents were tired but we embarked on a journey to Parochial Hall to watch me coach my U14 cup game.  I didn’t know they would be in for such a wild game.  We finally prevailed and won in double overtime.  By the end of our game everyone in the whole Hall was watching our game.

The next day we took a nice day trip to Kinsale where we had an amazing seafood dinner at a restaurant called Fishy Fishy.  We then strolled through the quaint town and as we left, purchased some hot drinks and pastries for dessert.  Being that they were very tired from the trip and the visit to Kinsale that night we hung out like we would at home and played gin rummy and listened to music as we laughed the night away.

The people of Ireland are so gracious to visitors and through this trip it was very evident for my parents to see that.  Neptune basketball club made them feel right at home by having my family out for dinner with all the coaches, and chairmen of the club. Then we went to our team’s pub and sat there for hours just talking and having some craic!

Another example of the unbelievable welcoming of newcomers in this country is when my parents and I went over to the O’Sullivan’s house. Conor and Darragh play on Neptune with me and I have been over there a few times now and they make you feel right at home.  So when my parents and I went over for dinner I knew they would enjoy the night.  We had supper and then Conor, Darragh and I had to leave for practice so my parents and theirs stayed talking for the rest of the night and hit it off like old friends who hadn’t seen each other for awhile.

For the rest of the week my parents and I ventured through the city of Cork, trying all the restaurants and food Cork had to offer as well as sight seeing.  One place that we went to which was very very cool was the Shandon Street Church. You were able to climb the steps which were built into the 7 foot thick walls and climb up past the clocks, through the belfry to the balcony which was 120 feet above the ground. While climbing there was a stop halfway where you could ring the bells of the church and play the songs laid out for you.  The ropes were given numbers and you would pull the correlating numbers from the song to the ropes. Another fun fact about the church is that four clocks on each side of the outside of the church never have the same time.  They are all off slightly from each other.

Finally to the end the week, we drove up to Belfast for my game.  Many people here obviously think Belfast is very far because it is on the whole other side of the country but that trip believe it or not was a short one for my parents.  They are the definition of “road warriors” as they drove 17 hours to watch me play numerous times in college.

The week went by so fast and already miss them but having them here to visit was such a wonderful delight and can’t wait for them to come back in March. I’m glad that they could see that I am helping a community through my love and passion for basketball, and I have to thank Sport Changes Life for giving me this opportunity to allow that to happen.

Just before I returned home for the holiday season I had the pleasure of having one more session with my ehoopers on Wednesday. Of course we had fun, the usual but we also ( the six Ulster University scholars) were given early cute Christmas gifts from them all which was awesome. I was given a blow up queen crown which I loved. We also were given the opportunity to see the Ireland footage seen on national television with CBS shown at the Belfast Classic. My self and Matt got the awesome opportunity to be in the footage as well as interview some very important,inspiring and highly accomplished individuals as well. I had a lovely time interviewing Olympic gold medalist Dame Mary Peters, and she was in my opinion quite lovely. Every Wednesday session with the ehoopers is always enjoyable in my opinion though, we have just grown to connect and develop a friendship. They say you never know where you will find friends even if it is a million miles away form America, sports has brought us all closer and giving us a bond with these people. It has been a pleasure and I can’t wait to se them after holiday break to see how everyone enjoyed and spent there holiday season. They all wished as happy holidays on our trips back home or wherever we were going (as some were choosing to travel for the holidays) and we did the same with them. PS- the five star pizza we have at every session is always good as well too, I think its secretly everyone’s favorite part of the day.

Is it Happy Christmas or Merry Christmas?

I have been hearing Happy Christmas a lot while the holiday season has approached Northern Ireland and it has been a wee bit of funny to me, as back home in the states, the norm is to say Merry Christmas, either way I just love the holiday season, it is a chance to gather with loved ones, family, friends and have fun. It is by far my favorite holiday. I am glad I got a chance to visit the Belfast Markets and experience, as well as compare them to the ones in my hometown Chicago, I have to say I was not disappointed  either, seeing all the wonderful vendors, from tons of different kinds of food, tons of Christmas gift ideas for the holidays for all ages in the family, and my favorite all the sweets/ snacks and drinks to try. I literally just wanted to buy and try everything sweet I saw, I love sweets, so they definitely got me hooked when I saw all the varieties offered at the market. But what stood out the most was the beautiful Christmas lights all through the market as decorations, the snow globe, which you could enter inside and take a picture in and other attractions inside the market. It really was just a well organized and put together market and I was so excited to be there. I also got the awesome opportunity to hand out a family pass to the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic which was nice. The lucky family was very excited and happy to receive the pass, as you can see in the picture above. (They were basketball fans) Belfast Christmas market gets a ten out of ten for me because I enjoyed all the sweets I decided to try and washed it down with hot chocolate, and I found some cute Christmas gifts for my family as well. If your ever in Belfast during the Christmas holiday season, please don’t hesitate to go and visit the Christmas market, you will definitely enjoy it and find something that you like individually. Hope everyone is excited and enjoying there pre-holiday celebration/events around the world safely!

After 4 long months, I was able to take some time off and fly back across the ocean. It was so nice to have some time off because the last month has been really busy. Starting off with the Belfast Classic, then finishing up games and practices, and final projects to wrap up the semester; I was really needing some time off to regroup. For the first part of my Christmas break, I visited my girlfriend in Manhattan. Most of my friends also live in the city, so it was nice to spend some time with all of them.

The trip started with my girlfriend, Halle’s, company Christmas party. I arrived in the city and went right to the Christmas party, trying to power through the jet lag. We had a great time and it was really nice to meet a lot of her coworkers. It’s been hard being so far away, so it was nice to spend a couple of days together. We spent a day at Central Park and went to the MET. It was really cool to just walk around and check out all of the different exhibits. Plus, I’m still waiting for my invitation to the annual MET Gala. I also bought us tickets to see the show Chicago, on Broadway. It was a very ~artsy~ couple of days which was a nice change of pace from my daily life. We also got to spend a lot of time with our friends. We also went out to a lot of nice dinners because I was also really looking forward to having food that I can’t really have in Ireland. Like always when we’re together, it was a perfect couple of days. It is also so hard to say goodbye, but I had an amazing time in New York. I was also excited to go home and see my family for Christmas.

Hey everyone! Even though it seems unimaginable at the moment due to the amount of deadlines standing between me and the 21^st, I am going home for Christmas in a couple short days. In light of the holiday season, I thought I would write this blog about all of the things I miss about home and everything that I have come to love about Ireland (trying my best to not make them all about food). In no particular order, here are some of the things that put a smile on my face day in and day out over here, followed with the major parts of my life I miss from the US of A.

What I love about Ireland:

• The relaxing, daily cup(s) of tea
• Getting lifts anywhere and everywhere (thank you to Francis, the Cronins, the Murphys, the O’Shaughnessys, and the U18 Irish Women’s National Team)
• The Cronin’s outdoor dog, Charlie
• Learning dance moves from one of my u12 players, Ciara
• People enjoying outdoor seating at restaurants in 40 degrees and drizzling weather
• My welcoming, hilarious, challenging, and genuine friends that are my classmates
• Cadbury chocolate (specifically the Oreo mint bar which DOES exist Katie, Christine, and Clare)
• When the players I’m coaching enjoy a drill I have them do
• Reuniting with fellow scholars
• Penney’s (goes in for a pair of socks — buys 3 sweaters, 1 hoodie, and 2 pairs of jeans)
• The unprecedented amount of high-fiving before games with the other team
• The CIT resident dog typically spotted in the canteen, recently found in the library
• Ian and I going through a bottle of BBQ sauce (Batt’s only) and jar of peanut butter a week
• Some of my favorite sayings: What’s the story (what’s up), excuse your cheek (pardon your rudeness), how are you getting on (how’s it coming), “ALRIGHT??” (as a greeting – still not sure what to say in response to this), everything followed by “like”, fillet pronounced fill-it, brilliant!, that’s gas (that’s hilarious), it’s grand (used for anything and everything – things might be great or they very well might be terrible), make shapes (typically on the dance floor)
• Me and Ian’s personal chauffer (and friend) Ronan
• Cappuccino (or 2) a day
• The English Market (especially O’Flynn’s sausages)
• Hilarious English to German translation problems with our roommate, Alex
• Student deals – Apache and Boojum singlehandedly getting me through finals week
• Four Star Pizza’s chocolate chip cookies
• The Christmas lights everywhere in Cork
• The Cork Starbucks staff that give me a new name for me every time (Patty, Paddy, Manny, Maddie, etc.)
• Laughing so hard doing our group marketing project with Miriam and Grace that the apartment security guard came to break up our 3-person party
• The unbelievably beautiful sights – Mizen Head, the Blarney Stone, the Cliffs of Moher, Cobh (with many more to come)

What I can’t wait to reunite with at home:

• The fam (including our marshmallow of a golden doodle, Bear)
• My friends (Not Your Average Joe’s tonight?)
• Our brown couch at 96
• Dunkin Donuts and Panera
• Worcester, MA – HCWBB, inHouse, Boston Donuts, Chick-Fil-A, Culpepper’s, Antonio’s
• My mom’s cooking
• A general trust in weather predictions
• Boston Winter Christmas market at City Hall Plaza
• Aunt Kathy’s mushrooms
• Not getting made fun of for iced coffee
• Runs around Cutler Pond
• Boston sports (go Celts)
• Going for drives blasting music
• Not getting a Christmas tree until December 23rd

Ultimately, I have so so many things to be grateful and thankful for – both in the States and over here in my second home of Cork. I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and happy New Year with their loved ones! Till next year 🙂

Growing up, wasn’t it amazing when your favorite shows came together for a “crossover” episode? One of my favorite crossover episodes was the Jimmy Timmy Power Hour series where the cartoons Jimmy Neutron and the Fairly Oddparents came together. This will always be a classic to me, but now I have a new favorite episode to add to my list: the one where my parents came to visit me in Ireland.

It’s funny to look back and think about the last time I saw my parents:  It was at the Sport Changes Life launch luncheon in NYC last August. When my parents walked me out to the bus, they both gave me the biggest hugs. I remember my Mom taking a picture of Makenzie and me right before we boarded the bus for the airport.  Mak was still a stranger to me at that point which is absolutely crazy to think about right now! After saying goodbye, I hopped on the bus to start the trip to Ireland to begin a new chapter in my life. Looking back, it didn’t feel as if the moment was real.  Think about it… I just had lunch with 23 perfect strangers from all over the United States and then we were all heading to JFK to board a plane together to move over 3,000 miles away from home! Though the idea of it does seem a bit crazy now, I never second guessed getting on that bus and neither did my parents. They both knew this was going to be my next great adventure in life.

When my parents pulled into my driveway in Letterkenny, I could not believe it. My parents? In Letterkenny? Who would have ever guessed this would happen! For the next 7 days, we traveled all over Ireland together. While I could write a chapter about each place we visited, here’s a short list of the few places that we covered: Giants Causeway; Malin Head; the Dark Hedges; Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny Castle, King John’s Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher. We drove through countless small towns and spent nights in bigger cities like Galway and Limerick.  Being able to tour around Ireland with my parents was amazing – it truly proves that it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, as long as you’re with the people you love. Having the chance to see all of these different places with my parents made them that more beautiful.

I’m sitting in my bedroom in Albany reflecting on our adventures and I can’t help but smile. I have been so fortunate over the last 4+ months. Without the Sport Changes Life organization and Rory Foundation, I wouldn’t have been able to create these lifelong memories with my parents. Thanks to these organizations, I’ll be able to tell my kids about “the time I had drove all over Ireland with my parents” and, hopefully, I’ll be able to take them there and show them why I fell in love with this beautiful country.

Even though I’m living in a different country, the distance from home never seemed that far. I went to college four hours away from home in America so being away during the school year was normal for me. To this day, I try to call/Facetime my parents at least once a week if not more. To all the kids reading this, remember to always call your parents and see how they are. It may feel like time is passing by and you’re the only one getting older, but they are too. Your parents will want to hear from you and see how you are doing. Trust me, after you’ve been away from home, getting to hear your parents’ voices will become one of your favorite sounds. My Mom’s and Dad’s voices and laughs are two of mine.

A early morning bus to Dublin, 4 hour wait in the airport, 7 hour Aer Lingus flight, 50 minute car drive, and 30 minutes of hiding behind the a bush in the cold was certainly worth the while to surprise my Dad! For the record, I normally ruin surprises, so actually pulling this off was a Christmas miracle. I was up bright and early full of excitement and anxious to see my dad. Although I almost missed my morning bus, the day of traveling went really well. I was able to shut my eyes on the plane for a couple hours and had a nice warm tea. Huge thank you to Aer Lingus for a safe and enjoyable flight. Once I landed, I sprinted to Dunkin’ Donuts for an iced caramel swirl coffee. Four months without Dunkin’ might have been the hardest part about moving to Ireland.

My two close family friends Freem, my high school Spanish teacher who I consider my second mom, and Laura, my long lost big sister, helped me plan the entire surprise. They invited my dad over for a pizza night to celebrate little Erin’s acceptance into Johnson and Whales University and neither of them knew of my arrival home. Freem picked me up from the airport and brought me to Laura’s house. She dropped me off at the end of the street and I waited outside until they all sat down to eat. I ran up to the front door and knocked on it. Little Erin opened it and instantly began to cry! She was so happy I was home. I heard my dad “wait, who is at the door?” I popped my head around the corner and saw his face completely light up. I walked over and said, “hey there lad!” I gave him the biggest hug and he continued to smile. It was an extremely emotional moment. I’ve never been far away from home nor have I spent more than 10 days away from my dad.

This time of year, is my absolute favourite. Watching Christmas movies, drinking hot chocolate, making homemade cookies with kids, playing in the snow, and most importantly, spending time with all the people that I love is what I enjoy the most. The holidays are also very tough without my mom here. There’s an empty seat at the Christmas dinner table, an empty space in the pew at church and no presents with her name on them under the Christmas tree, but I made it a point to make sure that my dad and I have a special Christmas. Our family might be small, but it is strong.

I’m home for Christmas everyone!

Wow, time flies! I’ve been living in Ireland for four months now, and I still love it. It feels like just last week school just started, grad school of course. Now one more semester, one work placement, one dissertation to go and I’ll have my masters in Marketing Practice!
It’s Christmas break, so What’s next? The answer to that is … traveling. I’m not talking about traveling back home; I’m touring Europe. I obviously miss my friends and family, but I’m out here now so I might as well take advantage of it. Plus when I get back to the states, I’m not sure when’s the next time I’ll be able to come back out here. Nevertheless, I’m super excited, and it’s always been one of my dreams to travel throughout Europe, now look. What’s going to make these trips even more special is my mom will be on this journey with me. If you know me, you know I love my mother to death. So for her to flight out here and take on four countries in 10 days means the world to me!

I’ll have some great stories to tell, so look out for my next blog and vlog; I should be extra lit. Also, add the SCL on December 28th to see where Ryanair takes Us. Happy Holidays Everybody!

-CHAZITO OUT ✌🏽

Due to finals and end of the semester assignments, I’ve been a little behind with blogging, vlogging, and just keeping the world updated on my life. 90% of my time for the last 3 weeks has been spent in the same place, Club Cairnes. I gave it that name earlier in the semester after Aisling and I spent an entire weekend in there, staying until about 1am every night trying to knock our assignments out. At one point, some other guys who were in there started playing techno music, which made some of us angry. Since that day, J.E Cairnes School of Business and Economics became known as, Club Cairnes.

These last 3 weeks have been very eye-opening! For starters, it showed me how much of a slacker I was during the semester. Had I done more of the assigned readings and took better notes in class I may not have struggled as much. It showed me my ability to stay discipline no matter how tired or frustrated I became. Being on campus from 9am-9pm eventually starts to take its toll on your mind and body. But even when I started to shut down I pushed through. As much as I wanted to say forget this, go home, watch some TV and “try again tomorrow”. I didn’t. I understood the effort and work that needed to be put in, in order for me to receive high marks on my assignments and exams.

It showed me just how much caffeine my body can withstand without becoming tachycardic. Aisling even started exhibiting symptoms of withdrawal towards the end when we stopped drinking so much caffeine. She started having really bad headaches and not feeling well. Once she would drink a coffee or had something with caffeine in it, she went back to normal.

But, one of the main things I discovered was I really can accomplish whatever I set my mind too. Yes, I know this sounds incredibly corny but I did discover this to be true. I was genuinely nervous about finals. I felt like I would never fully understand the concepts I was learning in class. Let alone critically discuss them in an essay while also citing sources. But I did it! I got threw finals and I actually feel as I did very well. I don’t feel like I just “passed”.

After my final, my classmates and I all went out and celebrated. It was a really great night because just having that weight off my shoulders felt incredible and then to be surrounded by people who were in the struggle just like you, celebrating what we all just accomplished. it was so nice.

Club Cairnes holds a special place in my heart but I really hope I don’t have to spend so much time there again next semester. I’m really going to challenge and push myself to stay up to date with my notes and reading during the semester so that I don’t have so much catching up to do during exam time, therefore less time partying at Club Cairnes. But then it makes me also wonder, did I do so well on my finals because of all the time I spent in Club Cairnes and how fresh the information all was in my head… I don’t know guess we’ll find out next semester. As I’m writing this I’m in Paris waiting for my flight to Accra to spend Christmas break with my grandmother. I cannot wait to just sit on the beach and relax for the next couple of days. After all the hard work I’ve put in over the last few months in dreary, rainy, Ireland. I deserve all the basking I’m about to do in this bright, hot, African sun.

This past weekend my team, the Portlaoise Panthers, played Liffey Celtics in Leixlip. Due to the fact that Leixlip is less than a fifteen minute drive from Maynooth, Jim Walsh invited the Maynooth Basketball Academy to come watch the game. As we warmed up I saw several kids from the academy walk in. I was so happy that these kids and their parents took their time out of their busy weekend to come support both teams. I made eye contact with a few of the kids and gave them a quick wave in between warm up drills. I was surprised when one of the girls called my name and pointed to a sign that she had made for me (she even let me keep the sign after the game). With each basket my team made, or steal we had, I heard the kids in the stands screaming for us. Although my team didn’t get the result we wanted, that game helped remind me that basketball is sometimes more than just what is reflected on the scoreboard.

This game reminded me why I play basketball, why I coach, and why I work so hard in the classroom: to serve as a role model. I looked up to so many athletes growing up, and I am honored that there are kids that now look up to me. I know that my team will turn it around next game because we want to win, and we also want to show the kids that support us how hard work can pay off. I coach these kids every week, and I love to see them become better basketball players, but I hope that they realize everything that basketball, and sports in general, can offer.

I am so thankful to the Maynooth Basketball Academy for coming out to support both teams this past week, and a big shout out to some of the under 16 Kilcock girls that came out to support as well. The Kilcock team has been one of my favorite parts about coaching year. I was so proud of these girls when they won their cup match this past weekend, and I was incredibly touched when one of the girls referred to me as the team’s ‘older sister’. I am truly lucky to be surrounded by such great people in Maynooth. Part of my responsibility as a Victory Scholar is to support the community, but time and time again I am reminded by how much the community supports me.

If you know me at all, you know that I love country music. So you may be surprised that I titled this blog with a line from a J Cole song. However, after this past year of my life, this quote hits home for me.

Exactly one year ago, I was a college graduate with a full time job living in New York City. I had made new friends, was living on my own in the big city, and had a boyfriend. Seemed like I had it all right? I thought so too, that was until my job became really overwhelming, my boyfriend of 5 years broke up with me, asked me to move out, leaving me with an extremely tough decision to stay and find a new place to live in New York or walk away from my first real job and city life and move back home. After going back and forth it seemed as if I really had no other option than to walk away from my job, New York City, and head back home.

Heartbroken was an understatement. I can vividly remember packing all my things and riding the train home  alone with tears streaming down my face. It wasn’t just the end of a 5 year relationship, it seemed like the end of everything. I walked away with no relationship, no job, and no confidence. All of my friends had jobs after college and weren’t living at home.  After a few weeks of moping around the house, my parents sat me down. They explained their sympathy for me, but also said that I can’t let this define me. They told me that I needed to apply for jobs and start doing things to get me out of this slump I was in. So after my little wake up call, I applied for any and every job just to get my mind of my heartbreak. The one and only job that responded was UPS, where I was hired to be a package runner for the holiday season.  (I WAS NOT EXCITED) This meant that I rode on the side of the truck and had to sprint out of the truck with the package, and then sprint back to the truck. I probably ran about 6-7 miles a day! Needless to say, working for UPS was an extremely humbling job. I went to work everyday feeling down and out about my situation, but as time went on I realized how even delivering a simple package to someone for Christmas made their whole day. It was then, my attitude started to change. I stopped feeling sorry for myself, and starting enjoying delivering packages to my regular customers.

Feeling empowered with my new attitude, I then got a waitressing job and also worked as an assistant wedding planner. Things started to pick up for me- and then I heard about the Sport Changes Life program. I figured why not apply since I had nothing holding me to New York and thought how amazing it would be to have basketball back in my life again. When I got accepted to the program, I new it was going to be an amazing year.

I didn’t write this blog to share my sob story with you all. I wrote this because exactly one year ago I felt like my world was crashing down on me, and now exactly a year later, I am happier than I have ever been. These past four months living, coaching, playing, and going to school in Ireland are more than I could have ever imagined. As I sit here writing this blog a few hours before my flight back home for Christmas, I am reminded of my time working for UPS and how far I have come since then. It’s amazing how things can change within the course of a year, and what seems like the worst situation in the world at the time, can really lead to the best times of your life. Maybe you don’t agree, but I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. People come into our lives to teach us things we need to know, the lowest of times help us to appreciate the good times, and sometimes one door has to close in order for a better one to open. If I had to re-live this past year all over again, I would do it all again, go through all the pain and heartbreak to experience the happiness I have felt these past four months here in Ireland.

 

In just these two past weekends, important events have come to fruition. These events were shared with others, most notably all the Sport Changes Life family in Belfast. This time of year is a wonderful chance to spend quality time with good company. Rather than spending it with my close family, this year went a little different for me. I spent Thanksgiving with those I thought to be strangers just 3 months ago. We all were brought together in Belfast and enjoyed this holiday exchanging the highlights of everybody’s year to date. With finals looming, it was a wonderful opportunity to relax and share the holiday with now close friends. Belfast was in its first weekend of showcasing its festive Christmas Market.  Beautifully established by the ornate City Hall, the market showcased many shops offering holiday goods. From the taste of France to kangaroo burgers, from hot chocolate to mulled wine, it’s suffice to say the Christmas Market brought about my holiday spirit. With this refresher over, finals week and the Belfast Classic commenced.

In the upcoming days, the completion of such an important event became a very rewarding experience. For the first time, 4 NCAA teams came to play in Europe. So much hard work by the SCL team was put into this event, it would be too long of a blog if I described it. The final day of the Classic brought an important realization on just how influential the event was to Irish basketball and the affect it had on the people attending the event. As an American from Philadelphia, where pride in basketball is unparalleled, I realized how fortunate I was to be exposed to top-tier sporting events that inspired me as a child wishing to play at that high level. Seeing the crowd build up by the entrance, arriving in the arena met with roaring sounds and pungent odors of stadium food, and finally seeing the court displayed at center stage were among the numerous joys experienced that have now had resounding effects on me.  I have been away from American basketball for quite some time and this event allowed me to remember all those significant experiences I enjoyed playing and watching the game I love. From the customized flooring to the college pep band, the Belfast Classic reminded players and coaches alike the joys of picking up a basketball. This realization was also aided by the young Irish that attended the event. The success of the games would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and passion shown by the fans, especially from all the boys and girls representing their clubs across the nation. I was able to see about 15+ kids from Old Leighlin, the club I help coach, enjoy an incredible day of basketball. It was through their passion and enjoyment that showcased the Belfast Classic’s tangible results. They had never seen a basketball event in such magnitude and skill and were decked out in memorabilia from foam fingers to Sport Changes Life beanies. I stood court-side, as I looked up upon the thousands in attendance, it was easy to spot the enormous smiles and greetings from the rambunctious group.

I was extremely proud to be apart of the Sport Changes Life organization after this groundbreaking weekend. This event showcased the true values of the organizations mission to inspire and bring others together through basketball. From the cheering fans happily accepting face paints from colleges they had just learned existed, to the final shot at the buzzer giving Towson the championship, you could not write a better ending or script to a phenomenal weekend.

To be able to witness history is an awesome accomplishment but to be apart of it well that’s an even greater experience. Belfast hosted the first ever Men’s NCAA basketball tournament, the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic on the 1st and 2nd of December and I had the privilege of being apart of it. Being a Victory Scholar at Ulster University we were able to see first hand some of the things that went into putting such a huge event on. We also were able to help with some of the tasks that needed to be done in order for the event to take place. The two weeks before the event were fun but stressful time for everyone in the office. But looking back it. it was all worth it, I was able to see first hand everything come together.

As scholars we had been promoting the classic at local shopping centers, hosting camps, and doing leaflet drops. We also were going out to local primary schools to spread the word and give out tickets. Through all the promoting and tickets we were able to see all the children and families at the games which was a great feeling. It felt like what we did prior to the event really made a difference. The atmosphere of the event also was out of this world insane. Before the event there was a fan zone that was held to get the fans excited and pumped for the games and that was a success. The entertainment that was put on during the stoppage of the game was also another great part of the event. It really got the crowd involved. Finally the games them-self were amazing and the championship game you couldn’t ask for anything better. There was excitement all throughout the game with crazy shots and dunks. The game came to the last few seconds with basically a buzzer beater being the decision maker.

The night concluded with some of the scholars taking up the floor and as much as it was a struggle it was kinda monumental. It was an ending to amazing unforgettable weekend. We picked up that last piece of floor with so much enthusiasm and although we all were probably more excited to be done, I still believe we all will never forget being able to be apart of history.

Shoutout to the whole Sport Changes Life staff for putting on an incredible weekend for Belfast. You all brought something new and exciting and it beyond successful!