Transferring to UJ
It is hard to believe that nearly two years have gone by since I transferred to University of Jamestown.
Coming as a transfer student, I didn’t realize the impact that this campus would have on my life. Going to a junior college in California for the first two years of college never really gave me the sense of what campus life was like at a University…not to mention what the true meaning of extreme weather was. Going from class to practice and back home again never really allowed me to have a connection to my school or even to the community.
When I came here to UJ, that all changed.
My second home
Being a student at University of Jamestown is like having a second home. I can always count on someone to give me a smile when I walk by, to hold the door a little bit longer (so I do not have to struggle to reach my ID), or even just to give an early-morning wave hello on the way to my 8 a.m. class. University of Jamestown is a tight, inclusive community that I am going to miss.
Joining the soccer team
I have had the opportunity to be a part of and participate in many amazing experiences, but by far, the experience that will forever stand out is the day I joined the soccer team. That day, I joined a family that will forever have an impact on my life.
I have met my forever friends here and being on a team with such supportive, compassionate, kind, and amazing women has made it so hard for me to even think about leaving. Two years ago, I would never have thought little old Jamestown, North Dakota would have an everlasting impact on my life. But here I am – forever changed.
This soccer career of mine has not always been the easiest. I have faced a lot of adversity but never gave up. Through surgeries, rehab, and countless practices and games, I have always pushed myself to never give up, no matter the pain.
Finding the willpower to do so would not have been possible without the help of the people here at UJ. As an athlete who has faced her fair share of injuries, I struggled with the balance of rehab and supporting my team; yet, through those struggles, my team’s support for me remained constant. The amazing Athletic Training staff (shout out to Camden), has been there through it all, and I will always be grateful for that.
To my coaches…
Coach Becker and Coach Jack: thank you for always being there for us in so many different ways. Through any hardship, whether it be in soccer, school, or just life in general, we can always count on you!
And to my teammates…
I am so thankful for all of you. You are the sisters I have always wanted but never had. The love and sense of family we share with each other is something not everyone gets the chance to experience. I wish our dance parties in the locker room, pregame prayer and cheer, the long bus rides, and staying in the “lollipop hotel” would never end. I could not have asked for a better group of strong, supportive women to finish off my soccer career and end my college journey.
Being a Jimmie
Being a Jimmie is something that will always live on in me. From the basketball and volleyball games, to the study groups in the library, the morning coffee dates at the Java Hut, and Marge’s omelets, nothing can ever compare to University of Jamestown. I am so thankful for the experiences I have had here and for the relationships I have built that will continue through my lifetime. It is such a cliché to say, “these are the best years of our lives” …but they truly are.
It is such an honor to be a student at University of Jamestown, and I will be an even prouder alum come May. Though these two years went by much faster than I had hoped and imagined, nothing will ever beat being a Jimmie!!
#RollJims
