Two Way Street

Written by

This past Saturday morning I was able to spend time with all four of the Huskies Club teams and had a great time with all of the girls! It feels great to see the relationships growing within the team and the club. Some of the 12u girls even came dressed in Halloween costumes – showing their excitement for Halloween a week early! I also had the opportunity to talk to one of the 16u girls as we waited for their training to start. We talked about the importance of practicing basketball skills at home and during the offseason, and how that’s the real key to getting better. She said that she had improved vastly just over the past year because she had practiced on her own so much. Every Saturday at training it’s evident that she loves the sport of basketball, and she plays with the same passion and fire every time she’s out on the court. She also told me that this past summer, she would either walk or bike to the UL Arena and practice her basketball drills just about every day. Imagine my surprise when I asked how far away she lived from the arena – it took her either an hour and a half to walk to the Arena or 30 minutes to bike! I sat there dumbfounded and found myself thinking about that statement. Could I really see myself, as a 16 year old, walking an hour and a half to the nearest gym to practice basketball? Needless to say I will remember that conversation for the rest of my life. If that’s not the meaning of dedication, then I don’t know what else is! It’s funny how we often think of coaching as a one-way street: we automatically think that the coaches are the ones teaching the players. In truth, I’ve learned so much from the UL Huskies girls already with my short time of being in Limerick… and I can’t wait to see what else will come my way.

 

Victory Scholar: Kelsey Harris

Sport League: SOCON Sports 
League

Present University: University of Limerick

Alma Mater: Elon University

 

 

Irish Dancing

Written by

People have been inviting me places left and right, day after day, and usually I am a home body with the occasional adventure in going out, but I vowed to myself that I would experience as much as I could over these nine months. With that spirit in mind I will tell you about the time I went Irish dancing- and I actually liked it! A new friend I’ve made, Cullen, is also from the states. I was introduced to him through Gene, another victory scholar, and Joe, one of our community partners. It turns out myself and Cullen have become exploring buddies, but that’s not the point of this blog. Anyway, he text me one night saying one of the local coaches invited him to see some Irish dancing and that he could invite me as well. I was going to say no because I had school work to do didn’t think I would be into it, but I reminded myself of my vow and went anyway. It turned out to be awesome. Not only did two people offer to buy me the best cider I’ve ever had, but the dancing was very interesting. They did various sets to live music and I learned that the small group of people dancing had been going to the pub for years. They were all far into their adult lives by this time, but they met years ago in the pub doing this very kind of dancing and remained friends ever since.

When we walked in, we were asked if we were going to dance, but in no way was I having that- or so I thought. One cider later I was asked again, but this time she told us that there was a section geared specifically for beginners. That peeked my interest a little. I told her that I would consider it. About 15 minutes later she resurfaced and said there really wasn’t much to it. All I needed to do was be able to count to three. I began to do the steps and we laughed it off. She was relentless though. When she came back the final time, she led us over to the dance floor, and before I knew it I was being instructed on how to do the group dance. By the end of the song my face hurt from smiling so much. I ended up having a lot of fun and am even considering going back again next week. Who knows, I might even jump in there with the more experienced crowd. Lesson of the week. You truly never know what you’ll like unless you try it.

Christmas Away From Home

Written by

The next leg of our trip was Prague. If I had to describe this city in one word, it would be beautiful. This city has amazing architecture, beautiful landscapes, and so much interesting history. I could go on and on about how pretty Prague was, but my favorite part of this stop of our trip was that it was where we spent Christmas.

 

Originally I was a little hesitant about being away from home for Christmas, it was the first one I haven’t spent with my family. It was Christmas Eve when I realized that although I wasn’t with my blood-related family, I was with the best next thing, members of my Sport Changes Life family, as well as members of my St. Francis Women’s basketball family. Being surrounded by such awesome people made me realize that I was going to have a great Christmas. I was in a great city, with even better people!

 

Although it was a great Christmas, it was definitely a very unique one. To start off on Christmas morning, there obviously wasn’t a tree, but Katie, Eilidh, and I still managed to reenact the Christmas morning excitement by exchanging gifts with each other. We then continued on the day sightseeing, and viewing all the beautiful spots Prague had to offer. When it came time for dinner, there clearly wasn’t going to be the usual Christmas dinner spread. Instead, Katie, Eilidh, and I had Korean… yup, that’s right Korean. It was the only restaurant we could find that was open on Christmas. Even though it wasn’t what I’d normally have, it was still an awesome Christmas dinner. The food was delicious, and it made for a great story to tell!

 

After dinner, we met up with the other Scholars, Emily, Cory, Meghan, and Jazmen, at their apartment, where they had a cute dessert/snack spread for us all set up on the table. It was so nice to just hang out and enjoy such a special day with them. At the end of the night, all I could do was smile as I took the whole day into perspective. No, I didn’t have Christmas at home, but instead, I had the opportunity to travel around the world exploring new places with amazing people that have become family to me. It ended up being a one of a kind Christmas; one that I will never, ever forget.      

 

Victory Scholar: Sarah Benedetti

Present University: University of Limerick

US League: NEC

Club/Community Partner: UL Huskies

Alma Mater: St. Francis College 

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

 

  

The Art of Being a Tourist

Written by

The reason why I wanted to do this Euro trip was to see the world and explore cultures different to my own. At each stop I definitely got to experience the local culture that I was submersing myself in. However, our next stop after Prague was Amsterdam, and let’s just say I was in a little bit of culture shock. From the legalization of prostitution and marijuana, to the use of canals as a form of transportation, Amsterdam was very different to any place I had ever been before. With that being said, I loved it! I loved being in a place that was so incredibly different. To me, that is what traveling is all about.

 

Of course with sightseeing in Amsterdam, comes the token tourist picture in front of the I Amsterdam sign. It was a must of things to do. Unfortunately, 100 other tourist groups had the same idea we did. On the first day of our stay in Amsterdam, we attempted to take a picture in front of the sign, but between the groups of people running into our picture, and the other 15 people hanging all over the letters of the sign as well, it was nearly impossible. The closest we got to a “good” picture was one of Katie, Eilidh, and I, and our 10 closest friends, and by friends I mean strangers. To say the least it was frustrating.

 

During our next few days, Katie and I had an epiphany on how to get the perfect picture in front of the I Amsterdam sign… take it from behind the sign. Yes, it will make the words come out backwards, as the kind photographer pointed out to us before taking our picture. With today’s technology, that was just fine, we were able to flip the picture, to make the sign read correctly, AND without any tourists getting in the way! Clearly, being a tourist is harder than it looks… there’s a lot of thought and work going towards getting the perfect picture in front of major landmarks. 😉   

 

Victory Scholar: Sarah Benedetti

Present University: University of Limerick

US League: NEC

Club/Community Partner: UL Huskies

Alma Mater: St. Francis College 

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

 

Joys of Coaching

Written by

Each week I coach kids at a local girls school and week after week they just continue to amaze me! One day we were working on dribbling and ball handling and I had them doing some basic drills I’ve done since I was their age. Afterwards, I wanted to challenge them a little, so we started doing two-ball ball handling. One girl asked me, “Would I ever dribble two balls at once in a match?” I replied, “No, but practicing dribbling two balls helps with hand eye coordination, helps you get a feel for dribbling, and can help make dribbling 1 ball that much easier.” They all looked at me like I had 2 heads and didn’t really understand so I demonstrated for them—first with 2 balls, then with 1 ball. When I was doing two-balls they all started screaming and clapping—I’ve never heard so many “Wows” in my life. Honestly, I was completely surprised by their reaction. This is a drill I would do all the time in training and all I would hear is my coach and often times my dad yelling, “Faster, faster! Quick, quick!” So I have to say, hearing cheers instead of faster and quick was a nice, brief change.

 

During another one of their training sessions, we were working on defense so I had them doing a pretty common defense stance and reaction drill. Basically, they slap the floor, yell defense, and get into a defense stance, then on my commands they would slide left or right, do fast feet, take a charge, or dive on the floor for a loose ball. They were all really into it and enthusiastic, which was really awesome to see! I mean most coaches have to beg players to talk and be louder…so them doing it on their own was great. The next training session, I gave them the option of what drill to do and a few girls actually suggested this drill. I was completely shocked!! I actually asked the girls, “You mean the defense drill where you do fast feet, and slide and take charges??” And they were like, “YES!!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Every team I’ve ever been on, we’ve done this drill and we all hated it. My teammates and I would dread it. And it was ironic because two days later at my Mystics training, we did this drill and lets just say it was by far our least favorite drill! It’s really cool to see how these young girls, some who never had played basketball before, have really embraced all aspects of the game and have so much enthusiasm for the game. 🙂

 

Victory Scholar: Nicole Krusen

Sport League: PATRIOT League

Present University: National University of Ireland Galway

Alma Mater: Loyola College

What Now?

Written by

Now that I’ve had a few days to get settled in Galway, I quickly realized that this year will be nothing like the first week in Belfast. The week was packed with adventures and orientation meetings, not to mention the fact that all of the time was spent with 20 other Americans. While that was great, I knew it would be much different once I arrived in Galway. Since I’m about seven hours from Belfast and came here only knowing Ebony, it was only a matter of time until the “what now” feeling arose.

It happened yesterday while I was sitting on my couch (which is my roommate’s bed by night, couch by day). To preface it, the first few days were a whirlwind. We were dropped off in Galway and had a lot to do. We took care of our banking, phone, and school situations as quickly as we could. We met most of the kids from our respective teams and even had the chance to explore the area a bit. But once the dust settled and I sat there on my couch, I realized that I had nothing to do. A wave of uncertainty came over me and I couldn’t help but think “what now”. After a few minutes, I remembered one of the main reasons why I was excited about this opportunity in the first place. Besides the basketball, coaching, and school aspects, which will all be great, it’s a chance to step outside of my comfort zone and enjoy experiences I wouldn’t receive at home. For instance, Ebony and I went to a street-side café the other night and drank tea as we worked on our laptops. I can think of at least a few people back home who would laugh at the thought of me doing that. Nonetheless, it was something I’ve never done.

Instead of wasting time on my couch by checking snapchat or Instagram, I decided to go on a run and explore the city even more. I wound up running down shop street (which is a sight to see at night time) and made my way to the shoreline. Running along the beach and looking at the city from a different perspective was awesome. I even stopped by a U15 rugby practice and chatted with a parent about the differences in sport popularity between American and Irish kids.

In a nutshell, whenever I don’t have an obligation to fulfill and I feel that “what now” feeling coming on, that’s my que to get out and enjoy Galway. I’m only here for a year and I plan to make the most of it.

New Year, New Semester

Written by

Time flies when you’re having fun and the past two weeks of relaxation and traveling was much needed. However, classes at WIT started today and I was not looking forward to start another work heavy semester.

 

Walking through the door of my morning class, Global Risk Management and Regulation, all of my Global Financial Information Systems (GFIS) classmates turned around and screamed “WELCOME BACK!” Cracking a wide smile on my face, I returned the excitement by saying “HEY GUYS!” Conversations flowing left and right about our Christmas break it was nice reuniting with my WIT friends. Our professor finally walked in, as we were all mid-smiling and mid-laughing.  In my life, it has been a common theme where classmates turn into friends just from bonding over the course workload, spending numerous of school hours on group projects, or simply helping one another out to understand the material in depth. Fortunately, this theme still continues during my time here at WIT.

 

Already starting the New Year with new courses and so much excitement I was feeling a little bit better. School is a lot more fun studying with people that endure the same academic struggles as you yet transform its stress into positivity and my WIT classmates do exactly that. Fall semester definitely made us closer and cannot wait for all of us to conquer the Spring semester…

 

Victory Scholar: Jazmen Boone

Present University: Waterford IT

US League: CAA

Club/Community Partner: Waterford Wildcats

Alma Mater: The College of William and Mary

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

Google Maps Changes Life

Written by

After my quick stay at home in the United States, my next stop was Berlin, Germany. Upon arriving in the airport in Berlin, I had a couple realizations that completely changed my whole mindset. The first being, nobody speaks English here. The second was that I was on my own, and had to navigate from the airport to the hotel all on my own! Originally, I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal until I realized that I had no data or cellular service to help with navigation! Once I realized this, I began to get a little worried about finding my way through a foreign country all on my own.

 

Now here’s an equation to illustrate this disaster:

 

No English Speakers + No Cellular Data (Google Maps) + Being on my Own = One Lost Sarah

 

Talk about a promising equation!

 

I have travelled to foreign countries before, but this was the first time I ever had to do it on my own. Not only that, but I have never really had a great sense of direction, or been good at using maps. To say the least, I was a little worried and not overly confident in getting myself to the hotel.

 

After getting my bearings with the little wifi I had at the airport, I embarked on a bus hoping I had gotten on the right one. The worst part was even after being on the bus for 10-15 minutes; I still had no idea if I was going in the right direction. Thankfully after about 50 minutes of travelling by bus, by metro, and by foot, I arrived at my hotel smiling ear to ear. I successfully navigated my way through Berlin all on my own, with absolutely no Google Maps! That is quite the accomplishment if I do say so myself.

 

If this travelling event was any indication of what the rest of my time in Europe would look like, I was going to be a pro at navigating with nothing more than just a map and my general sense of direction. To say the least, I have a new found appreciation for Google Maps and a new found skill that I want to improve in.

 

 

Victory Scholar: Sarah Benedetti

Present University: University of Limerick

US League: NEC

Club/Community Partner: UL Huskies

Alma Mater: St. Francis College 

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

 

 

 

Saturday = Girlday for coaching

Written by

On Saturdays, we help coach a series of girl’s groups at Kubs. Starting from 10am there are the 17 year olds, then until 1pm are the 14’s, and ending at 2pm the under 13 year olds train. The girls who attend are of all different skill levels, they come from different areas around the club, but more importantly all show up consistently to get better and stay committed to their teams. I really have enjoyed working with them because we can talk about the specifics of being a shooting guard and what responsibilities lie in the role, and I have also been able to give adn take ideas for Halloween costumes!

           The girls come for their training and work hard, hustle, share the ball, and have fun. It is great to hop in and teach them new drills that Christine and I have learned throughout high school and college. I really feel like we make a great difference coaching and just being at these sessions. The teams and other coaches value our experience and it’s great to use what we have learned to mix up practices and teach new things. We even walked into training and the team was running the “Ganser Drill” – a box out drill she had introduced last week!  
         

           We are happy to be a part of these girls’ year playing at Kubs and plan on teaching, learning from them and having fun! We’ve refrained from pulling out the “Sweet Sixteen’s”, (16 foul line to foul line sprints), and the double suicides, as we get the conditioning more through scrimmaging and other full court drills.

 

…If only this were how it was “back in our day” when getting out of the Second suicide meant making the first one in 28 seconds!…

 

Victory Scholar: Jennifer Morabito

Sport League: MAAC League

Present University: Trinity College Dublin

Alma Mater: Canisus College

Queens of Exploration

Written by

Free time should sound like the most liberating concept someone could ask for, but to a former college athlete, whose days were filled with rigorous schedules and every minute of our day consumed by class, practice, lift, eating, studying or sleeping, free time can feel quite confusing. Our time here has been full of free time and while it is exciting to have your day as an oyster, sometimes it feels like what the heck am I supposed to do with all of this unplanned time? In a new country and a new culture, the answer should be easy, EXPLORE! Of course. Most days we walk up to the train station and catch the train into Great Victoria Station which drops us in the center of Belfast. While I’m sure our few days of walking around Belfast’s city center by no means indicates that we know the place down cold, we were desiring something different and new yet again.

 

So we set out on the train for a different Belfast stop, Botanic. We had heard that the beautiful Queens university and the botanic gardens reside near this train stop, and to our great delight, this information rung true. Upon arriving at Botanic, Raychelle and I were immediately in love with the hipster vibes, smaller streets, cool, quaint shops and friendly, helpful people. After getting lost we approached a construction worker who proceeded to talk to us for about fifteen minutes. While it should maybe be normal by now, the friendliness and desire to help by all the people we randomly walk up to still strikes me as one of the most special and unique things about this place. We found ourselves in the front of Queens university, amongst beautiful buildings that reminded me of Hogwarts. While exploring the campus we stumbled upon the Botanic Gardens where we walked through a beautiful greenhouse, a fragrant rose garden, and generally enjoyed nature’s sweet touch.

 

We then found ourselves at the FREE Ulster Museum where we were able to just scratch the surface exploring one of their history exhibits on The Troubles. Here we learned more about the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants that took place in Northern Ireland in the 60s and 70s. It was very interesting to get a more in depth look at both sides of the conflict and how it impacted and still impacts so many people in their daily lives. Overall, this random day of exploration turned into something much greater. All of this discovery came simply from getting off at a different train stop. The exciting part is that I have no idea what awaits on the other side of the many other train stops we have yet to explore.

The Best Christmas Present

Written by

The Christmas season is always a happy and peaceful time for me and my family and this year was nothing different.  I had the privilege of travelling home to be with my family and friends for Christmas and New Years.  The feeling of being at home was the best Christmas present I could ever ask for.  However, Lil worded the experience perfectly. “Although I’m going home to my family, I feel like I’m leaving behind family here in Ireland.”

 

The kind words, gestures, and welcoming nature of the people I’ve met so far, have made me feel like family and I’m extremely thankful for that. It is hard to leave people who are so generous during a joyous season like Christmas, but I’m blessed to simply have that feeling. 

 

My family is as perfect as they were when I left for Ireland a few months ago.  There is nothing like being home around the holidays.  They welcomed me with all the love in the world and of course my favorite food and candy that I’ve missed.  Seeing my girlfriend and her family was amazing as well and cannot thank them enough for helping me come home.  Our families joined for Christmas dinner which was enough to feed the east coast of the United States and it was phenomenal.(They’re Italian, this was no surprise.) 

 

I am very blessed to have so many people in my life that make me feel like family.  I couldn’t have asked for a better trip home but now back to finish what I started with my Irish family.

 

 

Victory Scholar: Harrison Deyo

Present University: IT Carlow

US League: MAC

Club/Community Partner: IT Carlow Basketball

Alma Mater: Alvernia University

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

 

 

Hello 2016

Written by

The last four years of my college career I never had the opportunity to celebrate New Years due to practice and game commitments…. UNTIL THIS YEAR! What’s a better way of starting the New Year in a new city, right?

 

Edinburgh was lovely. Even on a cloudy day it’s deep gray, stone-like personality shines bright. I don’t think you could ever get bored in such a city. Galway Victory Scholar, Cory Starkey, and I had so much fun just by simply exploring and taking in views overlooking the city.

 

From visiting the National Museum of Scotland, St. Giles’ Cathedral, walking through the Christmas markets (yes, they had markets still going too), and hiking the Calton Hill, I’d say the Edinburgh Castle was my favorite. First, it had an amazing view of the entire city. Second, it was neat learning about the living conditions of prisoners, weapons used, historical information about wars Scotland was involved in, and the sophisticated lifestyle of the Kings and Queens – just an overall great attraction.

 

As cool as it was gaining historical knowledge about the city, what’s a New Year without a party? Cory and I booked street tickets for Edinburgh’s popular Hogmany Festival event. Streets flooded with people and live performances and concerts at every street end – the lively atmosphere was nothing that I’ve ever been apart of before bringing in the New Year the right way for the first time in my life.

 

It’s typical for people to have a New Year’s Resolution to encourage themselves for self-improvement. Asked by Cory what my New Year’s Resolution was and I couldn’t think of one thing or maybe mine wasn’t as cool as his “get swole” resolution. The only intention I had for 2016 was to make it better than 2015, which will be really hard to top the greatness that lies in my 2015 year.

 

As my Eurotrip flew by so fast before my eyes, it will definitely go down as the best trip ever in my life…deeply sad it’s over already. Then again, my traveling spirit is already thinking of places to visit for the 2016 year. Thank you Sport Changes Life, without this foundation I wouldn’t have been able to see some of the world’s most beautiful cities and cultures. Thanks Cory, Meg, and Emily for joining me on this trip, getting to know each one of you on a higher level was pure joy and happy we all became such close friends. So cheers to 2016!

 

Victory Scholar: Jazmen Boone

Present University: Waterford IT

US League: CAA

Club/Community Partner: Waterford Wildcats

Alma Mater: The College of William and Mary

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

Coached the 1st U11 Boys game!

Written by

On Saturday the Under 11 Boys Team at Kubs Club had their first game! I have been working with this group as well as the Under 12’s on Fridays with Christine for about a month and a half. One Friday I was taking the Dart (Irish train system) to the gym with one of the boys. We got off and started walking to the gym when I noticed he was very antsy and began speeding up!  I wasn’t sure if he was trying to get away from something (or me!). After a few more steps he couldn’t take it any more and told me he had to go run to the gym and get his special basketball to shoot before anyone else got to it!

           

This boy as well as his team were more than excited to play on Saturday. We even had a couple new players join that day, and this would be the first game that most of them have ever played in. Knowing that, it was important that I pointed out very basic areas of the game such as which basket we are shooting at, when we play on offense and defense, and after everyone on the team wanted to be point guard (as they all competed for the inbound pass), I learned to assign who takes the ball out of bounds and who gets to dribble it up the floor. This made things a lot easier for us!

 

Even though we were down the first half and didn’t get many shots up, you could still tell the boys were having a great time playing against another team. As soon as we got into the second half, we tasted a comeback! High fives were given down the line of the bench at each basket we made and the players as well as parents were excited to celebrate. I even got in trouble with one of the boys for not cheering as loud at the basket he made, so I made sure to take note of that for next time! The boys and I still have a lot to learn, and I look forward to our next game!

 

Victory Scholar: Jennifer Morabito

Sport League: MAAC League

Present University: Trinity College Dublin

Alma Mater: Canisus College

The New Journey

Written by

After arriving in Limerick after being at Ulster University up north for a week, I did not really know what to expect. This, I knew, was going to be the hardest part. Adjusting to a new culture, meeting new friends, and going to a new school. Being with 23 other American born scholars for a week really spoiled me and made adjusting to Ireland very easy. I understood now it was just me and my fellow scholar Megan on our own in the city of Limerick.

Coming from New York City, where I live, is a big adjustment when it comes to everyday life in Ireland. However, after walking around Limerick city for a couple days I quickly realized how beautiful it really is. There are many places to eat, shop, and visit. The people all around have been quite personable and helpful, especially with the numerous questions I have asked over the past week. I have been inquired on what to check out during my stay and the big attractions.

One magnificent place I had the chance to visit was King Johns Castle in the City Centre of Limerick. This was something I enjoyed and could not stop telling people about. They had a tour inside, so I obviously had to take part in that. It is very cool to me how much history is behind the castle and all the major events that went on at the location that has helped shaped Ireland into what it is today. The part I admired the most was the view from the top of the castle. Being able to see all of Limerick from that aspect was breathtaking. It was one of the rare moments where you stop and think to yourself, “How did I get so lucky to be in a place like this”?

I am looking forward immensely to seeing the rest of Limerick and visiting all that makes up this great city. My next stop will be what they call “The Milk Market”, which provides fresh foods, takes place on weekends and is a great atmosphere from what I am told.

 

Tune in next week to read about my cool new experiences around Limerick and what else I will be doing while out in Ireland to make a difference. 

Cup Weekend

Written by

This weekend being the semi finals for the National Cup in Ireland, my excitement has been building all week. Not only do we get to compete in what should be a great game, but we get to spend time with the Meteors team as well as other teams still competing in the cup. Most of the teams that are playing on Saturday or Sunday are staying the night in Cork where the games are played. It’s so nice how close knit the basketball community is here. We can all compete against one another on the court, but off the court each team will offer tea, biscuits, or even just friendly conversation to other teams! I’m excited to battle for a spot in the National Cup Final and then spend time with fellow players off the court! 

 

Victory Scholar: Meghan McGuinness

Present University: Trinity College Dublin

US League Partner: MAAC

Club/Community Partner: Meteors Ladies Basketball

Alma Mater: Niagara University

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

 

Roadtrip!

Written by

My brother Eddie and I have always been a package deal. Since our bunkbed days, we’ve been through everything together. That is why when I first learned that I would be coming to Ireland and living in Belfast for a year, I immediately wondered when Eddie would be coming to visit. If I got to see Ireland, naturally he would have to see it too.

I decided not to go home to Boston in between semesters at UUJ and take the time to travel. With all of my scholarly commitments taking up the majority of my time in Belfast, I hadn’t gotten the chance to see the island I have been living on since August. Eddie and I have always wanted to visit Ireland, so we saw our winter breaks from school as the perfect opportunity!

Before our road trip down south, we flew to London and saw as much of the city as we could in a single day! Taking the first flight in and last flight out of Belfast, we had a marathon of a day moving from site to site in London and taking it all in. We could have spent days there, but Eddie’s visit was short and we had more things to do and places to see.

After a brief stay at our Aunt Helen’s for Christmas, we drove from city to city, taking scenic routes and stopping to see as much natural beauty as we could in between. Driving on the left side of the road for the first time, I got us to places like Blarney Castle, Killarney Nat. Park, The Burren Coast and Galway in one piece! It was a once in a lifetime trip that my brother and I won’t soon forget.

 

Victory Scholar: Clare Sullivan

Present University: Ulster University

US League Partner: Patriot League

Club/Community Partner: Ulster Elks

Alma Mater: The College of the Holy Cross

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland 

 

Barracks This Thursday Night!!

Written by

I recently joined the music society at IT Carlow.  The group meets Monday nights from 5-7, and everyone brings their instruments.  It is awesome to see how many different cultures and ages come together through music.  At one point during the session I was playing guitar with another guitarist from Spain, Singer from Germany, Percussionist that was from India, and another singer that was from Poland.  It felt more like a United Nations meeting rather than a music group in Ireland.  After the practice we had a few drinks and discussed what songs we would perform and in what order the next night at Tully’s.  The performance went well and I believe my rap acoustic songs left everyone scratching their heads, but also got some type of enjoyment out of the old classic performed in a different way. 
 
I plan to bring the same type of feel this Thursday at the Barracks.  I have a few of my teammates from basketball (Roz and Kieran) playing with along with a few musicians from the Music Society (Rieka). I plan to play a few Bob Dylan tunes, a few old classics from the 70s, maybe some Avicii, and finally some mashups of songs put together as one.  I am really looking forward to Thursday and hope is goes well. If you are in Carlow on Thursday October 23 around 9:30pm, come by the Barracks, have a few drinks, and enjoy the show! See you there!!!
 

Victory Scholar: Patrick Connaghan

Sport League: Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference League

Present University: Institute of Technology Carlow

Alma Mater: University of the Sciences

 

One Big Family in Belfast to Jack and I in Letterkenny

Written by

Hi everyone! So Jack and I officially made it to Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. The drive from Belfast was amazing and everywhere you looked was magnificent. Our coach, Niall, and our community partner, Paul, greeted us in Letterkenny. They helped us get all settled in and luckily everything went super smooth. Our living situation is awesome. We have a house with a couple international roommates that have not arrived yet. They will be arriving in the next week or so. It will definitely be a great experience living with students from different countries. Also, the view from our house is gorgeous. I can now see why everyone I met the past few weeks have told me it’s one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland, if not the most beautiful.

 

Furthermore, Letterkenny is a real cozy town. I learned it was recently voted Ireland’s Tidiest Town. We were able to walk around for a little bit and at first sight it is easy to see why it received that title. The city is full of little restaurants, bars, cafes, and stores. In addition, the town is surrounded by wonderful views all around the outskirts. All of which is within a 10-minute walk from our house. I really look forward to getting to learn more about the area!

 

After finally getting unpacked and getting my room set up, we had our first practice with the national league team. I wasn't expecting too hard of a practice based on what Niall told us earlier. I was looking forward to meeting all the guys and his "assistant coach" Sally. However, it was not a light practice, he kicked my butt! Also, I quickly learned who "Sally" was. It’s not a person but rather a song coach plays that we do planks and push-ups too. The song goes something along the lines as “Sally up” and we plank with our arms extended. Then, the next lyrics are “Sally down” so we hold a plank at the button of a push up. I think by the end of the practice I planked for about 15 minutes…couldn't feel my arms by the end, let alone shoot a ball. (Youtube- “Bring Sally Up” and you will understand) Otherwise, it was a ton of fun to meet the guys and play the game that I love! It will definitely be a great year with a great group of guys.

 

The next day, Saturday, we had off. We decided it would be a smart idea to take advantage of the free time before we start getting busy with school, coaching, and playing. So we decided to take a trip down to Dublin… I'll tell you more about that in my next blog!

Starting a New Year…

Written by

 

No, I didn’t write this poem. But it’s been somethings that’s resonated with me since it was given to me during a program I was lucky enough to have the opportunity at Holy Cross called the Janssen Leadership Academy. It’s something that I brought with me to Ireland that hangs on my bulletin board. I will look at on occasion, but I am really going to make an effort this new year to practice was it preaches!

 

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

 

Victory Scholar: Clare Sullivan

Present University: Ulster University

US League Partner: Patriot League

Club/Community Partner: Ulster Elks

Alma Mater: The College of the Holy Cross

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland 

 

 

My Symbiotic Relationship with Scholar Jess Koci

Written by

So I thought I would take everyone back to 8th grade science class or maybe just to a few years ago when you guys saw the Pixar film “Finding Nemo” by referencing the symbiotic relationship in nature.   The classic example used is the clownfish and the sea anemone. Both species bring aid in protection from predators. Alone each species is capable yet vulnerable, but together they are stronger and safer. Jess and I are a perfect parallel  to this concept.  In the last two months I have matured and grown a great deal and I must give most of the credit to Jess Koci.  It has been a blast living with her.  It is pretty incredible how well Sport Changes Life matched two people that get along so well.  Maybe it was the simple fact that we are both from Philadelphia.  Regardless, if you saw how we interact you may think we hate each other but that assumption couldn’t be more misguided.  We are constantly hitting each other, calling each other names and making fun of each other, but it is all in good fun. I guess you could call it our culture, or maybe it could be called simply the tough Philly “brotherly love”.
 
We are the definition of a team. T-ogether E-veryone A-chieves M-ore.  The apartment dynamic is awesome.  We function both efficiently and effectively.  We understand our roles and complete the tasks that best suit our skill sets.  When cooking I clean, prep the food, and do the dishes, while Jess cuts the peppers, onions, and cooks all the food.  Jess does all of the cleaning and “tidying” of sweeping and cleaning up the mess after cooking while I gather it and take out the trash to the dumpster. Her Italian roots really shine through in her cooking.  It is superb.  I think she is at times mildly concerned with the amount of food I can consume.  She frequently calls me the “garbage disposal” or “bottomless pit”. Maybe she is right that I eat too much but I think it is because the food is so good.  
 
 If Jess feels tired I try to pick her up with energy and when I am not feeling well Jess does the same for me.  We have all our classes together, and just like groceries and other tasks around the apartment, we divide all the work and conquer.  For example, Jess has a accounting degree, so I let her take the reigns for our strategic financial analysis class.  She is putting the study guide together and making flash cards, and basically tutoring me after class since it is all review for her.  I have a specialised business marketing degree, and I have already written a senior thesis in which I conducted both primary and secondary research last year.  It was basically an abbreviated dissertation.  So I am helping Jess finding sources so she can pick an appropriate topic that she will both be interested in and have ample information to write and support it.  I also will help her with the marketing and out of the box questioning that is required at level 9 here at IT Carlow.  She is a very cut and dry simple accounting type of personality. I hope by the end of the year I can help her think philosophically questioning the status quo, and understand both perspectives of an argument when there’s simply no clear cut answer.  
In summary, together Jess and I have true synergy, and I can’t think of a better person to aid me through my time as a Victory Scholar this year.
 

Victory Scholar: Patrick Connaghan

Sport League: Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference League

Present University: Institute of Technology Carlow

Alma Mater: University of the Sciences

DCU, We Have Arrived!

Written by

Jasmine Wooton and I are the two scholars attending Dublin City University (DCU) for the next year! It is the first year Sport Changes Life and DCU are partnering together. With that, we will be studying in the master’s programs here—Jasmine in HR and myself in Business Management. We will also be members of two basketball teams while we are here—one with our university, and one with a local club team called DCU Mercy. It’s a little confusing, but what you need to know is that club teams are very serious here and in the rest of Europe as well. So, the DCU Mercy Club team will demand the biggest commitment. ANOTHER part of this amazing SCL program is that we will be coaching Irish youth in our surrounding communities. SO, to clarify: my year with Sport Changes Life will allow me to pursue a master’s degree, play basketball, and coach youth in the area. It really is a package deal.

 

Since we have arrived at DCU, Jasmine and I have had plenty of time to explore, get settled in, and prepare for the year ahead. We don’t start school until the 20th, so we’ve had plenty of time to enjoy DCU and the surrounding area. We’ve gone into the city centre (don’t ask how much we’ve spent on bus fees), done endless amounts of grocery shopping (we eat well), visited other scholars, and have been in preseason training for DCU Mercy. We toured the Guinness factory as well, which was cool because they taught you how to properly prepare a glass of Guinness beer. They called it “graduating from the Guinness Academy” so hit us up with any questions. We also saw a Riverdance show at Gaiety Theatre in city centre, which was incredible! They were pure athletes with the caliber of Irish step dancing they were executing. I’ve also had way too much Gino’s, which is gelato, but no regrets here. It’s delicious and smooth and creamy and makes me happy (mouth currently watering). It’s all been so great but we know we’re about to get much busier soon—with orientation this week and school starting next week, we will have our hands full! But it is all worth it!

A Village People Christmas

Written by

This year I got to spend Christmas in Ireland! Staying was an easy decision for me to make because it was an opportunity to see what spending Christmas in another country is like. With that said, I knew I would miss home. But spending time with family here in Ireland was almost as good as home for the holidays. Not only did I have my brother here, but I was able to spend Christmas with my step family. The Gills live in a very small town called Greencastle. Since the town is so small, the community is like one big family themselves and they all celebrate Christmas together! So by saying I spent Christmas with the Gills, I can really say I spent it with practically the entire town.

On Christmas morning my cousin and I walked down the street to her Aunt Pat’s house before most of the neighborhood came over the to the Gills’ later that day. I was welcomed into a small living room and into what was a Christmas morning tradition of drinks at Pats house with the self-proclaimed “Village People” (not the band although YMCA was belted out at some point). Hearing laughter before I even got in the house, I knew it was going to be a good time.

Just like Christmas at home, we had an amazing Christmas dinner and of course something sweet. The only difference I noticed between Christmas here and at home was there was more tea to go around on Christmas day in Ireland. But something completely different that I didn’t expect was a whole other dinner the next day! In Ireland, the day after Christmas is called St. Stephens day or Boxing Day. Unlike in America when you are back to reality the day after Christmas, Boxing Day is a whole other day where you get to eat, relax and spend time with your family. It was a treat to spend another day in Greencastle to rest up before our big Irish road trip.

Shoutout to the Gills for hosting me for a Christmas to remember!

The City of Berlin

Written by

Berlin….eh. I’ll admit, it wasn’t my favorite city; however, the trip itself was A LOT of fun.

 

The transportation system was very confusing and the spread-out city itself I wouldn’t say was breathtaking. Historical: summing up Berlin into one word. Due to my finals I missed a day with the crew to see some of its greatest museums. I DID get to see the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp located north of the city, which is about a 30-minute train ride. After some questions and confusion, Emily, Meg, Cory and I finally found the right train to get us to our destination. Talking our lives away and laughing, it was our luck that we missed our train stop. Completely blown and defeated, we got off at the next stop. Instead of getting mad at our slight sidetracked route, let’s just say we made the most of it and arrived at the camp in a decent time.

 

Growing up, I’ve read and seen films about the Holocaust and visiting a concentration camp was the number one thing I wanted to see in Berlin. Witnessing the camp in person was heart breaking. Reading about each persons’ story and learning about the tragedy that occurred in the camp makes one wonder: how and why? Jewish victims slaving their lives away for torture and starvation churned my stomach. Thinking about it, I truly believe in the infamous quote on how learning about the past is a great way to prevent history of repeating itself.

 

Although the plan was to visit the Berlin Wall after, the insightful time spent at the camp took the day away. So, we made our way back to Alexanderplatz for the Christmas markets. Christmas is the best time of the year…at least in my opinion. Walking by each vendor, wide eyed gazing at the variety of meats and deserts along with the small trinkets, reefs and Christmas lights latching all over the market was an incredible feeling. This year, it was a little tough getting into the spirit but coming to the markets definitely helped. Stuffing my face with a sausage sandwich and sipping on some deliciously-good hot wine, the crew decided to go on a Christmas present adventure.

 

None of us had bought Christmas gifts for each other by this time, and we all agreed to do a little secret Santa on Christmas Day. Meg and I went first. Given 20 minutes we bought our presents for our assigned person. Emily and Cory went after. Waiting impatiently, 20 minutes go by. Meg and I were confused as to why our other two Victory Scholars were not back yet within the allocated time. Frustrated, we hurried out to get some deserts. Within our journey, we spotted Cory and Emily buying deserts. Confused and annoyed that we were waiting for them for so long while they were out buying deserts instead of gifts we gave them a little steam. Laughing at the altercation, they scurried off and finally bought their presents while Meg and I decided to gorge on German cookies.

 

We had already accomplished so much in one day yet laughing nonstop at each other – I knew this Europe trip was going to be the best ever.

 

Next stop: Prague, Czech Republic

 

Victory Scholar: Jazmen Boone

Present University: Waterford IT

US League: CAA

Club/Community Partner: Waterford Wildcats

Alma Mater: The College of William and Mary

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

Embracing Change

Written by

After a good month or so of great weather (70 degrees, sunny, barely any rain), the real Irish weather has come upon us. The past couple of weeks we have seen constant rain, heavy wind, and colder weather in general. Just like the seasons, change is inevitable. The hard part is just learning how to embrace it!

 

I’m the type of person who doesn’t mind change – but I also enjoy having a routine at the same time (hypocritical, I know). In college, I fell into the habit of always having a set schedule, mainly because it was crucial to being successful. Here in Ireland, I’ve learned how to be even more open and adaptable to change – both by taking the step to move here and actively living here every day. I know the move itself was a big change, but I want to be careful of falling into a routine or rut while I’m here. I know that if I fall into a constant or mundane routine, I have a bigger chance of feeling homesick!

 

This past week, I felt the first true pang of homesickness as it was Homecoming Weekend at my alma mater Elon University. I knew the weekend was rapidly approaching on the calendar and tried to avoid acknowledging it at all costs. Luckily, I was able to keep myself plenty busy with coaching the Huskies’ girls Saturday morning, playing a SuperLeague match that afternoon in Dublin, and staying the weekend with fellow scholars Christine and Jen!

 

I do find myself craving the familiarity of undergrad from time to time (and of course missing my friends and teammates 😉 but just like the philosophy behind Homecoming Weekend, it’s great to see everyone from college branching out and finding their own places in the world. As you can see from my picture, I was “living the maroon life” from Ireland! 

 

Victory Scholar: Kelsey Harris

Sport League: SOCON Sports
League

Present University: University of Limerick

Alma Mater: Elon University

 

Christmas in Prague

Written by

Christmas has always been so special to me because I got to spend it with the people I love the most, my mom, dad, brother, Grandma as well as extended family, and my best friends. Being over 4,000 miles from these people on Christmas day I clearly would not be able to spend my cherished Christmas traditions with these people.

Even though I missed my family and friends very much, Christmas was not as sad and lonely as I would have originally thought. The reason for this is because of the people I did get to spend Christmas with. Myself along with several other victory scholars traveled throughout Europe, spending Christmas in Prague. And although it was a very different Christmas from what I ever experienced, my 23rd Christmas was one I will never forget, one spent with my new family of Victory Scholars. 

My Trip To Rome

Written by

 

 

My mother and I spent 7 days in Rome and still did not have enough time to see and experience everything that Rome had to offer.  I will definitely be making a second trip hopefully sooner than later.  Rome was just an outdoor museum with so much beautiful and historic art.  The hotel was located perfectly with it being walking distance to so much without being in the middle of all of the large crowds.  The food was amazing in Rome although some places were better than others overall the food was some of the best I have ever had.  I fell in love with gelato during my trip.  I stopped at the gelato shop near my hotel at least twice a day.  The employees started greeting me by name after the third day into my trip.  At night large crowds gathered at the Pantheon to hear some of the local musical artist perform.  It was really beautiful hearing the musicians play and watching the crowds cheer felt like something I have seen on a movie.

 

Rome was the perfect location for my mom and I to spend for the holiday.  I know that she loves art and history and there was plenty of that in Rome.  The atmosphere was perfect very family oriented oppose to a more energetic party experience.  We were able to really bond and spend some quality mother and son time that I will never forget.  I pray that God blesses us with many more trips to spend together in the near future.  I recommend Rome for all of my family and friends to visit. “To God Be The Glory” 

 

Victory Scholar: Jonathan McNair

Present University: Ulster University

US League: East Coast Conference

Club/Community Partner Ulster Elks/ Andersonstown Tigers

Alma Mater: St Thomas Aquinas College

Sponsored By: Teamwear Ireland

The Start of A New Year

Written by

The first few days of the New Year I have done a lot of reflecting on 2015 and how wonderful a year it was for me.  2015 was a really good year that brought much growth within my life.  This past year for me was filled with blessings in many different areas.  Although the year like all years was not all smiles the good times have lasted much longer than the bad times and for that I am truly grateful.  My growth during 2015 did not always render the best feelings, as expected in any year.  I now have a better understanding that with more blessings more responsibility is required.  The Sport Changes Life Foundation has revealed to me how much more responsibility I can manage.  In 2016 I look forward to doing more and challenging myself to excel in more areas.  I will be working to enhance the way I balance my responsibilities this year.  I believe that balance becomes increasingly vital with the more responsibilities that we take on.  I aim to not allow one area of my life to be neglected two days in a row.  2016 will be a year filled with more blessings, although just like any other year challenge and struggle can be expected.  I look forward to the tough times as well as the days when it feels as if the sun won’t stop shining my way.  The tough times in life can bring growth so I pray that God does not lighten my load but strengthens me so that I can carry the weight that will be placed on my shoulders.  2016 will be an awesome year for you and me so let’s be focused and never give up.  I appreciate all of you who have been reading my blogs and I wish you a healthy and prosperous new year. “To God Be The Glory”       

 

Victory Scholar: Jonathan McNair

Present University: Ulster University

US League: East Coast Conference

Club/Community Partner Ulster Elks/ Andersonstown Tigers

Alma Mater: St Thomas Aquinas College

Sponsored By: Teamwear Ireland

 

Eurotrippin’

Written by

Finishing up finals was the best feeling ever. But packing up to go traveling around Europe was an even better feeling. For those who don’t know me, I love traveling. I love seeing different cities, ethnicities, and cultures. Learning different lifestyles and countries is the one experience that cannot be replicated; you must see it for yourself.

 

For 22 years, I have only left America once on a girls trip to the Bahamas but I would still think of myself as a traveler. With an open opportunity for a mini trip, I was all for it. I’ve visited numerous of places in the U.S.: Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, New York City. You name it, I’ve probably been there. Even different universities within a close proximity of my college to see how other college students live their experience in comparison to William and Mary.

 

Heading to my flight I was thinking…do I know these people? Besides Katie Fox, I’ve only seen Emily Leer, Meghan McGuinness, Cory Starkey and Sarah Benedetti on occasions in Ireland and we all know seeing someone for a day and actually living or traveling with them are TWO completely different things. Boarding my flight alone to see my favorite Victory Scholars, I had a feeling of excitement and nervousness. People who I click with so well will actually see the REAL day-to-day me. Also, traveling in Europe compared to the U.S. can get a little scary too.

 

As my flight was about to take off I took a deep breathe…ready for the next nine days.

 

First stop: Berlin, Germany.

 

Victory Scholar: Jazmen Boone

Present University: Waterford IT

US League: CAA

Club/Community Partner: Waterford Wildcats

Alma Mater: The College of William and Mary

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

Castleisland Blitz

Written by

The Castleisland Blitz is a holiday basketball tournament that goes on in Ireland every year. I played in the tournament yesterdat with my UL Eagles team and we played 4 games in one day and made it to the finals. Now I know 4 games in one day sounds like a lot but the format of the tournament is what makes it so neat.

 

A normal regular season game consists of four 10-minute quarters with a stopping clock. This tournament consisted of two 10-minute halves with a running clock. A running clock means the clock doesn’t stop if there is a foul or if the ball goes out of bounds or anything like that. This meant that a 6-point lead really felt like a 20-point lead because the game was so short that it was hard for the other team to come back. It was a “get it and go” style of basketball and the most fast paced games I had ever played in. You didn’t have to wait for the official to hand you the ball on an inbounds play, as soon as the ball went out of bounds you could grab it and throw it in. It was so fun to play that fast paced style of basketball and the atmosphere was great with hundreds of people in the stands. It was a unique basketball experience that I will never forget. 

 

 

 

 

Victory Scholar: Staats Battle

Present University: University of Limerick

US League: ACC

Club/Community Partner: UL Eagles

Alma Mater: North Carolina State University

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

 

Wanderlust

Written by

Wanderlust: a strong desire to travel 

Often we get so caught up in our own lives and fail to realize just how much is out there waiting for us. I have the urge to see different countries, meet different people, experience new things and new cultures, and see what else the world has to offer. 

This holiday season was a lot different than the ones in my past. I have never spent Christmas away from my family, but this year I did. Instead of flying home, myself and a few other victory scholars decided to satisfy some of our travel desires. We went to Berlin, Prague, and Amsterdam over the course of 9 days. Each place was a new and exciting experience. They all had amazing Christmas markets, each with their own twist (and their own DELICIOUS food!!). Berlin was the source of a lot of history learning, Prague’s beauty took my breath away, and Amsterdam’s laid back vibe is one I will never forget. I am so thankful that Sport Changes Life has provided us with the opportunity to be in a place that makes traveling so easy, while also providing us with such great people to travel and enjoy experiences with. I can’t help but wonder how I have lived for so long with so little knowledge about the rest of the world, and I look forward to continuing my travels when the next opportunity arises!! 
 

Victory Scholar: Meghan McGuinness

Present University: Trinity College Dublin

US League Partner: MAAC

Club/Community Partner: Meteors Ladies Basketball

Alma Mater: Niagara University

Sponsored by:

Stay Updated! Sign up to our newsletter

Stay Updated! Sign up to our newsletter

Sport Changes Life, Unit 22, Argyle Business Centre, 39 North Howard Street, Belfast, BT13 2AP

 +44 (28) 9621 8637     info@sportchangeslife.com

Sport Changes Life 2025  |  Terms & Conditions  |  Corporate Social Responsibility  |  Privacy & Cookies Policy  |  Website Design & Build by Mammoth