Transition is word scramble for change… and change is HARD.

Trying to find your stride in a new place.

“Besides covid the hardest part was knowing everything I left when I transferred. I was really comfortable at Villanova but the main reason why I left was because I wanted more. It wasn’t that Nova was bad, so leaving made it that much harder.”

- Kelly Jekot of Penn State Women's Basketball

Sometimes you have to be your own best friend and biggest cheerleader

Any transition in life is hard because it goes hand and hand with change - which very few people embrace. Transitioning from high school to college is challenging for a number of obvious reasons like being away from home for the first time and having to take care of yourself. With that being said, I don't think those are the topics that create such difficulty for incoming freshmen. I believe the biggest, and most difficult parts of the transition are: 1. having to adjust to an intense structure or lack of structure, 2. not having someone you immediately trust, and 3. The pressure. 

If you are anything like me, someone who grew up in a small town with a tight-knit community, you can probably attest to these transition difficulties as well. I was blessed to grow up with a great group of role models and supportive people in my life. I was used to my own schedule and a set routine that I had built for myself. When I began my freshman year in college, I really struggled to adjust to the new environment. At home, everything was easy and comfortable. However, college is just the opposite of easy or comfortable - especially when you are playing a sport. So the first step to transition? Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

I promise you will figure it out. Good, bad, or indifferent.

"Set yourself up for success by setting up a routine for yourself and reaching out to people."

It takes time to adjust to change.

The everyday challenges of surviving college have lasted my entire career. However, as time has passed, I have gotten better at adapting to the difficult situations that arise. 

You will often hear that one of the greatest struggles of being a student-athlete at the collegiate level is time management. As a student, you have the mental pressure of school work (and not just keeping up with it, but doing well at it). Then as an athlete, you have the physical pressure of practice and games. We are supposed to show up every day, ready to give 100 percent. We are told that basketball (or whatever your sport is) is supposed to be our safe place - a place where every other problem leaves when you enter the gym. But, playing sports in college comes with more responsibilities and pressures than it did when we were kids. It becomes a job, I even found my worth becoming more and more tied to basketball. There are more rules and regulations around the game. You aren't always surrounded by your best friends as teammates and your coaches may see you as a number before they see you as a person and that's just the honest truth

The reality is, it’s hard to balance everything. With all the pressure, time commitments, and mental exhaustion, having a thriving social life becomes a challenge. I have learned that it is all about setting my priorities straight and making sure they align with both my personal goals and my team’s goals. It's not only about what you are willing to do, but just as importantly, what you are willing not to do. It's up to you to balance the fun and success of your college athletic career, and the goal is, they go hand in hand.

TIPS TO MAKE SURE ITS WHAT YOU WANT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS (OR MORE)

Some teammates and I break down how to go about the recruiting process in an empowering way. Don't let this process drain you, let it EMpower you. 

"Keep an open mind, don’t believe everything you hear, and soak it ALL in! You’ll never be wanted that way again." - Allie Clement, Former Marist Women's Basketball Player

Tricks of the trade: When I was being recruited I spent the first two years just going through the motions of the recruiting process and constantly feeling overwhelmed. With that being said, the recruiting process is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It helps you figure out who you are and allows you to meet many new people. Some fellow teammates of mine and I are here with tips to help you get the most out of this process.

1. "I think in order for recruits to pick the right school they need to consider if they would still want to go that school if they weren’t playing basketball." - Maren Durant

2. "If it doesn’t work out with a school that you thought was the one, don’t worry. Trust that it wasn’t the place for you, keep an open mind, and remember that you are another step closer to finding the school that will be your home and the team that will be your family." - Annabelle Larnard

3. "You take on the responsibility of not only representing the school on the court but also in life. Furthermore, you are expected to uphold the morals and standards in everything that you do." - Liz Shean

4. "I wish I knew that no one should be able to pressure me into making a decision." - Riley Childs

5. "I recommend always doing a pros and cons list after speaking with a coach or visiting a school. You can then ultimately figure out what you like and can find trends. For example, if you like big schools, small schools, up north, down south, east coast/west etc. Therefore you won’t be persuaded into liking just what the coaches are selling you." - Katie Nelson

These are all great tips to take into consideration. One of my tips to add would be to keep a journal throughout the whole process. When I did this, I used my journal to jot down some notes and key points of what the coach was saying. Doing this allowed me to keep track of how often they called me which helped me gauge their level of interest. Another thing it allowed me to do was to see if they were being consistent with what they were saying. If I noticed they weren't being consistent I noted it as a red flag. Lastly, put forth an effort to make a personal connection with all the people [players and coaches] you meet along the way because they are so much more than just their title of coach or player. It is also a great opportunity for networking.