For many, it is difficult coming to college and finding your niche. Students struggle finding out if they should rush a frat or sorority, join an organization, or play a club sport. Once arriving on campus, they have the opportunity to choose how they will integrate themselves and who they will surround themselves with.

As a student-athlete, I did not really get that choice. I arrived on a hot summer day in early August outside our athletic center with two suitcases packed to the brim, looking like a lost puppy. I was immediately greeted by a group of strangers who I was to open my arms to and accepted them as my new family in this strange city.

I was embraced by a warm welcome that cushioned my transition away from home and decreased my homesickness. My team was on campus a few weeks before classes began in preparation for the season, so we had plenty of time to get to know one another; especially after spending over four hours a day in the gym together. / LM*Although this was a family I was forced into, there wouldn’t be a single thing in the world I would change about it.

Jumping into the school year I was surrounded by dozens of other collegiate teams. Rowing, squash, basketball, soccer, and many other sports. Being a person who enjoys the company of a variety of personas, I did my best to get to know people from these different teams. I can firmly say that out of all the choices -good and bad- that my freshman self has made, the best decision I ever made was branching out.

When I arrived early on campus, I thought I was the only person living in my dorm. After wandering the halls aimlessly one night, I saw an extremely tall boy walk into a dorm. I later found out that the freshman basketball players were on campus early too. I so badly wanted to make friends but had no idea how to introduce myself.

Multiple times I walked up to their door to introduce myself and chickened out. Eventually, something within me caused me to knock on the door of their dorm. Half a year later that boy is one of my close friends on campus.

I had to take a risk and step out of my comfort zone. I was no longer afraid to go out of my way to meet someone new. It opened up a new world for me once school started and enabled me to make friends with people from different teams. It's what caused me to meet my best friends on our squash & rowing teams. It is what helped me navigate through the struggles of adjusting to college.

Slowly, as I got to know athletes from other sports, I learned that a cycle of appreciation and support came along with it. The school rallied in all corners of the bleachers in the pool area to watch our men’s water polo team take on their biggest rival. Teams all excitedly congratulated my best friend on her success on being the athlete volunteer of the month.

I counted down the days until the squash team had their first match. In deep concern the question, “what happened to you?” is constantly echoed off the walls of our athletic training room from athletic trainer to athlete. Coaches of other teams comment on a great success of a team’s win. Our administration works to publicly acknowledge our success to promote our programs.

We are a community. We are a system that holds one another up and pushes each other on the right path. Together, we are a powerful unit that influences one another each day, but it takes being able to step outside the comfort zone of your team to help fully feel that effect yourself.

While I have found that opening myself up to other teams and not confining myself to the company of just one small group of girls to be helpful, it does not mean I take any of my teammates for granted. They are my family. Every single day we watch one another struggle to push ourselves to our limits. We help each other up when we fall down (sometimes literally if there is an injury). We hold each other accountable for our actions. I believe a strong teammate bond can persist for a long time.

The relationships you make throughout college are with people who can change your life. By surrounding myself with fellow athletes I have discovered levels of friendship that were foreign to me prior to coming to college.

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to see them strive for greatness as athletes and as students. Every day I am blessed with the abilities that make me able to play my sport, for without it I would have not been involved in such an incredible community.