WELL, this is so fun! I am honored to be in the spotlight of this month's blog post. So, today I will be talking about my experience in college, how I got here, and what it took for me to fulfill my college years. You know, it's funny because college is either for you, or not. ME? Ya, it was for me. Student loans? Maybe not for me. However, take it and go with it.
In 2018, I was 17 years old turning 18, in my senior year of high school. I played the best sport of all time for 16 years growing up. I played club soccer and high school varsity soccer. Man, being the coach's daughter was a challenge, yet the best ever. My dad and I had many road trips to games and practices. I remember looking forward to my dad picking me up after school and BOOM straight to the soccer fields. You don’t realize what a sport does to a kid until you become older and reflect. Playing club soccer brought in some of my best friends growing up. I was surrounded by a team of girls who not only challenged me on the field but off as well. When you’re at the age of “what do I do next”, it really is, “what do I do next”. Playing club soccer with some of the top best athletes in the nation, you are surrounded by everyone committing to these big universities… but not me. I sat on it for a while, then finally decided that soccer was going to take up my whole college years, and do I really want to pursue it anymore?
Letting go of something that shapes you in character, was hard. Not only was it hard because nearly everyone on my team committed to big universities for soccer, but everyone expects a coach's daughter to commit as well, right?? However, my dad actually pushed me into something bigger for myself. My mom always showed up to my games, always on the sidelines EVERYTIME, she loved watching me play too. I had the best support system any 18 year old making a big decision like that could have. My siblings were still young, trying to figure themselves out, however I also wanted to be a role model for them. I applied to 7 different universities, my favorite one? ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY! Not only did I go because it was the first school I got into (easy money) I also went because of this girl.. Yea she LOVES TO SOCIALIZE!
Here I am, just making my decision right then and there, I am doing it, let's go. I did want to go out of state, not to get away but growing up we moved a few different times, let me just put it in perspective, I do NOT have a “childhood” best friend. However, did I meet plenty of other best friends? Haha ya. I am grateful for moving from place to place because number one, it grew my social skills, but it also allowed me to get comfortable in different environments. I feel like that is one thing people really struggle with is stepping out of their comfort zone and taking on risks.
Little maddy heads off to Arizona State, my parents, siblings, and grandparents moved me into my dorm. Going back to when I say I had the best support system, I really meant it. There is nothing that helps a human being more than feeling the love from their loved ones around them.
I knew a few people going into ASU however, not the people I ended up meeting. MAN OH MAN were these 4 years the best years of my life. Now, playing soccer for 16 years, I guess you really wouldn’t label me as a “sorority type” however, I did it. My freshman year I realized joining a sorority was going to bring me the best of friends and memories. Not only that, I was used to being a part of something, my soccer team was sorority itself. However, different vibes HAHA. Anyways, here I go walking into recruitment looking like a chicken with its head cut off. At first, overwhelming, like who are these girls so happy, screaming & shouting, what the heck? Whatever, I kinda vibed it out. Talking to 14 different sorority houses in the manner of a week, that's like 7000 girls just having conversations with, then onto the next. They always say “the house you get is literally home, it is exactly where you need to be”. Here comes BID DAY, I got accepted into my first choice. WOW I REALLY FELT HAPPY. I also was just really excited to take on another life challenge.
I got really involved, met my big, and I also was honored to get close with a fraternity and become their sweetheart and queen my last year. I made so many connections, related to so many people from different states, and created the best memories. No one can really explain the amount of fun one can have, however, there is an idea. Finally, I was able to be on the other side of recruitment, I got to choose girls to join the $quad, amazing. I met my little and g little, had the chance to be an adult and navigate them to make the right decisions in college.
You really get sucked into the social life, I mean like REALLY. My junior year, I lived with 5 girls in a frat house… talk about never forgetting the mold on the walls, green pool, and broken toilets! FUN! However, when the hell am I going to do this outside of college??
College is all about BALANCE. Focus on school, then go to a party. So, my freshman year, let's just say I was getting a little too comfortable, made some bad decisions, but am I a bad person? Heck no, did I learn to overcome certain circumstances that lead to growth? UM YA! HOWEVER, who was there when I needed to overcome this? My parents.
My parents split my freshman year of college. I think that hit me when I first went home for the holidays and there was a big change. First Christmas without waking up with my mom and visa versa. Let me tell you, IT IS WEIRD however, if you look at them two now, happiest humans! Why? Because even though you have to go through things to GROW, sometimes the hardest decisions in life can turn out to be the best.
Anyways, back to college, I started with majoring in Psychology, didn’t like it, switched it up a bit to Family and Human Communications. Best choice, I mean when i say every class i took i truly enjoyed, i truly enjoyed it. I am not a math nerd, hate science, and wtf is law? Ya, communications it is, I love talking, but i also love my people. I have a heart for helping others, I just love connecting and helping. This life now, people are selfish, you can be selfish in a healthy way, however I rather help others than help myself first.
Now? I am graduating in Family and Human Communications, with the opportunity to pursue my degree after graduation. I got a job with development in children ages 0-3. Not only do I get to work with these children who live in poverty, do not have everything, and are struggling with how they develop, I get to also teach their parents how to help improve their development in their child. Still have a lot of work to do, however I am very excited to take this NEXT BIG CHALLENGE ON & GROW. there is ALWAYS room for growth, physically? Maybe not, I will be 4’9 forever, mentally? Yea, for sure, get me to 7ft tall there.
My end goal, starting my own program relating to juvenile delinquents in the justice system, helping them through the struggles they have as teens, but also making them believe in themselves that they can do this life too, there is always a second chance, and another one after that.
Take on this life, overcome challenges, but ALWAYS love others and give what you can because overall, we are in this life together, it may look different for everyone, however we all can show love and support even through the hardest days.
In 2018, I was 17 years old turning 18, in my senior year of high school. I played the best sport of all time for 16 years growing up. I played club soccer and high school varsity soccer. Man, being the coach's daughter was a challenge, yet the best ever. My dad and I had many road trips to games and practices. I remember looking forward to my dad picking me up after school and BOOM straight to the soccer fields. You don’t realize what a sport does to a kid until you become older and reflect. Playing club soccer brought in some of my best friends growing up. I was surrounded by a team of girls who not only challenged me on the field but off as well. When you’re at the age of “what do I do next”, it really is, “what do I do next”. Playing club soccer with some of the top best athletes in the nation, you are surrounded by everyone committing to these big universities… but not me. I sat on it for a while, then finally decided that soccer was going to take up my whole college years, and do I really want to pursue it anymore?
Letting go of something that shapes you in character, was hard. Not only was it hard because nearly everyone on my team committed to big universities for soccer, but everyone expects a coach's daughter to commit as well, right?? However, my dad actually pushed me into something bigger for myself. My mom always showed up to my games, always on the sidelines EVERYTIME, she loved watching me play too. I had the best support system any 18 year old making a big decision like that could have. My siblings were still young, trying to figure themselves out, however I also wanted to be a role model for them. I applied to 7 different universities, my favorite one? ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY! Not only did I go because it was the first school I got into (easy money) I also went because of this girl.. Yea she LOVES TO SOCIALIZE!
Here I am, just making my decision right then and there, I am doing it, let's go. I did want to go out of state, not to get away but growing up we moved a few different times, let me just put it in perspective, I do NOT have a “childhood” best friend. However, did I meet plenty of other best friends? Haha ya. I am grateful for moving from place to place because number one, it grew my social skills, but it also allowed me to get comfortable in different environments. I feel like that is one thing people really struggle with is stepping out of their comfort zone and taking on risks.
Little maddy heads off to Arizona State, my parents, siblings, and grandparents moved me into my dorm. Going back to when I say I had the best support system, I really meant it. There is nothing that helps a human being more than feeling the love from their loved ones around them.
I knew a few people going into ASU however, not the people I ended up meeting. MAN OH MAN were these 4 years the best years of my life. Now, playing soccer for 16 years, I guess you really wouldn’t label me as a “sorority type” however, I did it. My freshman year I realized joining a sorority was going to bring me the best of friends and memories. Not only that, I was used to being a part of something, my soccer team was sorority itself. However, different vibes HAHA. Anyways, here I go walking into recruitment looking like a chicken with its head cut off. At first, overwhelming, like who are these girls so happy, screaming & shouting, what the heck? Whatever, I kinda vibed it out. Talking to 14 different sorority houses in the manner of a week, that's like 7000 girls just having conversations with, then onto the next. They always say “the house you get is literally home, it is exactly where you need to be”. Here comes BID DAY, I got accepted into my first choice. WOW I REALLY FELT HAPPY. I also was just really excited to take on another life challenge.
I got really involved, met my big, and I also was honored to get close with a fraternity and become their sweetheart and queen my last year. I made so many connections, related to so many people from different states, and created the best memories. No one can really explain the amount of fun one can have, however, there is an idea. Finally, I was able to be on the other side of recruitment, I got to choose girls to join the $quad, amazing. I met my little and g little, had the chance to be an adult and navigate them to make the right decisions in college.
You really get sucked into the social life, I mean like REALLY. My junior year, I lived with 5 girls in a frat house… talk about never forgetting the mold on the walls, green pool, and broken toilets! FUN! However, when the hell am I going to do this outside of college??
College is all about BALANCE. Focus on school, then go to a party. So, my freshman year, let's just say I was getting a little too comfortable, made some bad decisions, but am I a bad person? Heck no, did I learn to overcome certain circumstances that lead to growth? UM YA! HOWEVER, who was there when I needed to overcome this? My parents.
My parents split my freshman year of college. I think that hit me when I first went home for the holidays and there was a big change. First Christmas without waking up with my mom and visa versa. Let me tell you, IT IS WEIRD however, if you look at them two now, happiest humans! Why? Because even though you have to go through things to GROW, sometimes the hardest decisions in life can turn out to be the best.
Anyways, back to college, I started with majoring in Psychology, didn’t like it, switched it up a bit to Family and Human Communications. Best choice, I mean when i say every class i took i truly enjoyed, i truly enjoyed it. I am not a math nerd, hate science, and wtf is law? Ya, communications it is, I love talking, but i also love my people. I have a heart for helping others, I just love connecting and helping. This life now, people are selfish, you can be selfish in a healthy way, however I rather help others than help myself first.
Now? I am graduating in Family and Human Communications, with the opportunity to pursue my degree after graduation. I got a job with development in children ages 0-3. Not only do I get to work with these children who live in poverty, do not have everything, and are struggling with how they develop, I get to also teach their parents how to help improve their development in their child. Still have a lot of work to do, however I am very excited to take this NEXT BIG CHALLENGE ON & GROW. there is ALWAYS room for growth, physically? Maybe not, I will be 4’9 forever, mentally? Yea, for sure, get me to 7ft tall there.
My end goal, starting my own program relating to juvenile delinquents in the justice system, helping them through the struggles they have as teens, but also making them believe in themselves that they can do this life too, there is always a second chance, and another one after that.
Take on this life, overcome challenges, but ALWAYS love others and give what you can because overall, we are in this life together, it may look different for everyone, however we all can show love and support even through the hardest days.
