In fifth grade I promised myself I would play D1 field hockey in college. Fast forward to six years later, Missouri State University offered me a scholarship to do what I loved.
My freshman year of college was everything I dreamed it would be. I was playing for a D1 field hockey team! My life was perfect and I could not imagine it any differently.
April 3, 2017
Everything changed on April 3, 2017. Missouri State needed to make budget cuts, which resulted in the de-funding of the field hockey team. To say I was heartbroken is an understatement.
I was furious. I wanted to continue playing … but where? Rosters were set, scholarship money was divided up, transfer applications were even closed at some schools. I felt hopeless and left in May not knowing if I would return in the fall.
Unable to transfer to another team over the summer, I returned to Missouri State with a sour taste in my mouth my sophomore year. I hated Missouri State for what they did to me. Every day I called my family and said I wanted to go home. I didn’t know who I was without field hockey. Frustrated with my pity party, my mom told me I needed to change my mentality about Missouri State or I was going to waste my scholarship and my college experience.
A new passion
So, I took my mom’s advice and got involved. The first week back for spring semester, I found the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. Immediately, I found my home at Missouri State again. I no longer felt lost. My soon-to-be brothers and faculty alumni helped me pick a major I was actually passionate about, and it changed my life. I found my new passion: marketing. Finally, I found something I was good at besides field hockey.
By junior year, I had a home and different families in so many parts of campus. I interned with the Ice Bears and started my current job at the Plaster Student Union administrative office, where I work with amazing staff members. The Entertainment Management Association began taking up a lot of my time and I was even able to volunteer with them at the Super Bowl and Final Four. I also serve as a PINK Campus Rep (some of you may recognize me as one of the girls who pass out underwear on campus—LOL).
Nevertheless, she persisted
People ask me all the time how I could love Missouri State so much after everything that happened. I do still think about field hockey often. I miss something that had defined me for so many years. Even though the situation put a damper on my time at Missouri State, I am reminded of one my favorite quotes: “nevertheless, she persisted”.
Despite these setbacks, I made my Missouri Statement without field hockey. I found my true passion and my new family at Missouri State and met peers and faculty members that steered me in the right direction and genuinely care about me. I have reached heights that I never knew were possible for me. Heck, I am a social media intern for Missouri State University! This place is special and I am forever grateful to be a Bear. I hope Missouri State has learned one thing through having me as a student … and that’s to never underestimate a Jersey Girl.