I recently told my mom a funny story.

Not too long ago, I was on the phone, talking to my roommates here at Kent State.

I wasn't in Kent at the time and was just on my way back.

Then, one of my roommates asked me when I'd be there. 

Without even giving it a second thought, I told her that I'd be home in like an hour.

That moment really floored me.

It's the first time in my life I noticed calling Kent State 'home.'

I said it so naturally, and even more so than that, it felt 100% right to say it.

I'm from Connellsville, Pennsylvania, which is about an hour southeast of Pittsburgh. 

I love my hometown and the Pittsburgh area. It's the only place I've ever identified as home.

Until now.

When you commit to a university and city for four years, you never know what to expect. 

You kind of just hope for the best, but my career at Kent State has been so much more than that.

Between playing in two MAC Championships, being named to the 2023 MAC All-Tournament Team, and getting involved with student leadership programs on campus in the last few years, Kent State is where I've truly come into my own as a player and person.

A weight off my shoulders

I can't help but laugh looking back at it now, but I can promise you I wasn't laughing at the time during my recruiting process.

As a freshman in high school, I visited a ridiculous amount of schools. 

It was just an absurd number.

Like 40-plus schools.

I also had something like 18 offers to play college soccer.

That was a lot to process at such a young age. I remember many nights stressing myself out on the verge of tears because I had so many different options, and I just wanted to make the right decision for my future.

Kent State was one of the later offers to come in, and it didn't take long for me to figure out they were the best fit for me.

What I loved about Kent was that it was close enough to Connellsville for my parents to watch me play, but it was still far enough away for me to gain the experience of living on my own.

While it was a stressful time, I felt so blessed to have made such a monumental decision at a young age, and I couldn't wait to get started here.

An impact outside of soccer

When I first got to Kent State, my life revolved entirely around soccer. 

In fact, during my freshman and sophomore years, I never really explored any activities or organizations on campus outside of soccer.

It wasn't until the end of my junior season last year that I had this realization this school has so much more to offer.

I contacted one of my really good friends, Quintin Cooks, because I saw on my Instagram feed how active he was in USG, which is the Undergraduate Student Government.

He let me know that his term as a senator for USG was ending soon, and he thought I'd be perfect to fill his role. 

The senate position would be Senator at Large for Athletics, which would essentially give me the opportunity to be the voice for student-athletes on campus.

Once I went through the application process, I ended up getting selected.

And I have to say, it's been one of the best experiences I've ever been a part of.

I meet every Wednesday with the other senators, and that dialogue and communication has opened my eyes to how much of an impact I can make on this campus beyond the soccer field.

I also serve on the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) board and the IAC (Intercollegiate Athletics Committee) sub-committee, and I can't tell you how great it's been to play an integral role in these organizations and be a part of something bigger than myself.

As much as I love soccer, finding an identity apart from the sport and learning more about myself and the impact I can make on those around me has been revolutionary to my life.

A season to remember

Going into my senior season this year, our goal was to make it back to the MAC Championship. 

While we made it to the championship and lost in the finals in my sophomore year, we had a challenging season last year. 

So, we looked forward to proving that we belonged with the best of the best in the MAC again.

We weren't expected to do much this season. 

In fact, we were picked to finish sixth in the conference, but this team had that special chemistry and camaraderie that every team searches for.

Once we got to the conference tournament after overachieving all season, our motto was, "We didn't come this far just to come this far."

And we played like it.

When we knocked off Western Michigan in the semifinals, who was the #1 seed in the conference tournament, I can honestly say that was one of the best days of my life on the soccer field.

We proved so many people wrong that day.

We came up short, again, in the finals and lost to Ohio, and while that was heartbreaking, I'll never forget how we defied expectations this season with the best group of girls I've ever played with.

I was honored to be named to the MAC All-Tournament team during that run, but truly, it's the dedication, passion, and belief shown by our entire team that will always mean the most to me in a season I'll never forget.

Preparing me for life

When I think about my time at Kent State, I think about how everyone here has become my second family.

I would do anything for my teammates and coaches, and I know they feel the same way about me.

Going to practice every single day for four years, I can honestly say that soccer helped shape me into the person I am today. I'll never be able to repay Kent State for the moments and memories I've made on that field that I'll forever cherish.

At the same time, Kent State has prepared me for life outside of soccer.

Through the connections I've made and everything I've learned about leadership and government in my various organizations, I've created so many opportunities for myself beyond the soccer field.

No matter what the future holds, Kent State will always be home.

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