When people hear "paintball," most think about how painful it can be or how much money a person invests. Occasionally on television or in the news, the National Xball League (NXL) will showcase all its glory. But there is one thing that not many people see or correlate with the rugged sport and that is women. Thanks to my university, my life was turned upside down, in a great way that changed me forever.

I was first truly introduced to paintball in 2016 when I took a trip to TopGun Paintball in Jackson, NJ with the Commuter students organization on campus. We arrived, were given rental equipment and proceeded to play for the whole day. Although I do not remember much more than that, the following week, I skipped class to go back and play by myself. When I arrived, there were only guys, who later became my friends that I still paintball with to this day.

From then on, it slowly turned into an obsession. Later that year, my parents bought me gear. I continued to play when I returned back to school. Having played a few times at the same field, I began to become friends with the staff and later realized I needed my own paintball gun.

To an experienced player, picking a paintball gun and figuring out which one best fits your style of play can be very hard. The price tags attached also factor in. Spring of my freshmen year, I was not only playing paintball more and more, but I had joined a sorority. They took interest in my love for paintball which only made me want to advance my skills. It feels good to know there is a giant support system right behind you every step of the way.

Fast forwarding to the summer, paintball really began to pick up. I participated in my first paintball event, meeting some of my biggest influences today. It was like I was destined to play because things kept happening in my favor. September of 2017, I joined my first paintball team and could not be any happier. We attend events all over New Jersey with hopes of expanding in the near future.

This all might seem weird to some people, but as I became infatuated with paintball, not only did I discover a part of myself that I never knew existed, but my self-confidence shot through the roof. It did because paintball allowed me to become myself and to forget about the societal craziness that was and still goes on around me. I continue to play most weekends and referee at my home field.

Without paintball, I do not know where I would be today.