There are many categories people sort me into when we first meet.
They usually include nerd, artist, friendly, and outspoken (but also chill, according to my roommate). While I am all of these things, there is one key element to who I am that people don't assume when they first meet me. I am an athlete. I wasn't the star of my town rec soccer team, or the high school sophomore already being recruited, but I have played sports for most of my life.
I've tried all of the classic kid sports: soccer, swimming, karate, volleyball, etc. But I was never passionate about them. I never joined a travel team or went to competitions. I was happy just doing it for fun. To be fair, I never considered myself to be an athletic kid, and I sure as hell never expected to end up where I am now.
Freshman year of high school my Spanish teacher also happened to be the boy's track coach. He was talking to me about throwing shot-put one day after class and he told me he thought I might like it. He told me about an informational meeting and a week later I was on the team.
Long story short, I ended up throwing for all four years of high school, which was eight seasons between indoor and outdoor. I still maintain that this was one of the best decisions of my life. As a freshman, I imagined myself as that one senior who never really got good, but had enough dedication to stay. Come senior year, I was captain for two seasons and I qualified for our conference meet.
I made amazing friends and I learned how to manage my time and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
As the college process really took off I considered what it would be like to continue my throwing career in college. The fact that this was even a thought in my mind was hilarious to me.
Even after four years of track, I still didn't consider myself an athlete. I ended up getting in touch with the coach at one of my top choice schools and he told me that I would be all set to join the team if I decided to attend that school. I thought this would be perfect, the team was division three so I wouldn't have the crazy schedule of division one, but I could still throw and have a good time.
Ultimately, I decided to come to Villanova over that other school. I accepted that my time as a thrower and as a student-athlete was over, or so I thought.
During the first two weeks of this semester, I saw a sign advertising a meeting for girls who were considering joining the rowing team. I figured since I had never held an oar they wouldn't take me, but after talking with the freshman coach and telling her about my time on track she told me I should come try it.
Fast forward a month and I am now officially a division one rower. I never thought I would be a walk-on to any sport, or that I would ever be an athlete again. I can honestly say that putting myself out there and making this commitment has been one of my favorite parts of my college experience so far.
When I started telling people that I was on the team they were obviously surprised. My family has been very supportive and I could not be more thankful for that. But when I tell most people they are genuinely shocked. I'm not complaining about this, if I were them I would probably have the same reaction.
I don't look like the stereotypical college athlete. I've never been jacked and I definitely don't have a six-pack. I don't need everyone I see to automatically see me and think athlete, but it can be a little discouraging when people say things like "Wow, I never expected you would do something like that" or "Are you sure you know what you're getting yourself into?". Yes. I am aware that no sport is easy, and some days all I want to do is crawl back into bed and eat some ice cream. But I wouldn't do anything differently.
I will never give up something that makes me happy just because people may not picture me as your typical student-athlete.