Now, my intention of joining the Villanova Community through The Odyssey Online was for me to escape the hustle and bustle of being a student-athlete. However in recent news, most conferences around the United States are cancelling fall sports' seasons and it was not a topic I could ignore. This including sports ranging from football to cross-country. In my case, I am on the women's volleyball team at Villanova which means no fall season for me either. The focus here is not to dwell on the fact that we won't be competing this fall, it should be an opportunity to branch out on campus other than involvement in the athletic department.

This news was greatly anticipated by numerous athletes, therefore we should use this time off the court to spend more time in the classroom (or virtual classroom in our case). What I am trying to say is although this is not ideal, especially for student-athletes who are upperclassmen, we could think optimistically here and take advantage of being more involved as a regular student. By no means am I happy about the cancellation, trust me I have had my melt downs, however life is short and at this time of our lives we must think about the good that could come out of anything. So, with that being said, let's build up that resume and get involved in clubs, organizations on and off campus, and non-athletic extracurriculars! Being a rising sophomore, I regret not getting as involved in other clubs on campus my freshman year, and I am looking to change that this year now that we have a tad bit more time on our hands. Juniors and seniors reading this probably don't think I am helping, because they probably have a rockin' resume by now, however it is never too late to meet new people and try new things especially on Villanova's campus. For some of us, athletics will not last forever, and finding other interests is something we must discover. Last year the athletic department held an event led by previous Villanova student-athletes who discussed their journey after sports and how they were successful in finding jobs and new interests. Sports will always be a very large part of our lives, especially during our prime college years, but it is never too early to start thinking about your future and where your versatile interests may take you.

Who am I to be giving this advice as a rising sophomore you may ask. Truthfully, I am unsure however I do know that the resources we have been given have inspired me to take on these actions of discovering more beyond the sport. Everyone at this university wants us to be successful, and so do I! I would not be preaching this if I did not believe it. And you know what they say, "practice what you preach." I intend on doing exactly that this semester. On the contrary, this is a lot easier to write about than to do. I could motivate for hours and not do any of it myself, yet I strive to hold myself accountable to expand my horizons and get involved on campus in more than one way.

To conclude, if any other student-athletes are reading this, breathe. Do you know how frustrating it is to work all summer long in the gym and on the court just to be let down three days before returning to campus that you will not be competing this fall? Yes, it is rough, frustrating is a more accurate word. Just the icing on the cake for 2020! From the start of a global pandemic, to the tragic death of George Floyd and injustice to black Americans, our country has done it all, and it is only August! Not to end this on a harsh note, I am just pointing out the truth. What I have realized the last few days is that it is okay to not be okay. It is okay to be frustrated and it is absolutely okay to be mad at the world given what this one has been through this year. However, we must use that frustration as a turn around for the better, and use what we can to become a more successful version of ourselves, we got this.