“You’re cut.” These words hit me as if I were frozen in her path. Was she serious? What am I supposed to do now? It took time to sink in. I was confused. I’ve been on varsity for two years, and now I’m cut? I realized something other than volleyball needed to take control.
Until this point, volleyball was my life. I know that sounds crazy, but it actually was. It took up every ounce of my free time. In the fall, it was volleyball daily until the end of late October. And in November, it was time for club. I practiced during the week and traveled nationally for weekend tournaments.

I had been doing that since I was eleven, so by sixteen, it was normal. But now I was cut. And I didn’t know what to do.

I repeatedly asked my parents, “Am I still supposed to play club?”

The reply was always the same: “It’s up to you.”

I knew it was up to me, but I didn’t know what the best direction was. I decided to play club volleyball that November. But as the season went on, I realized it wasn’t as enjoyable as it used to be. The practices seemed longer, the tournaments seemed more frequent, and my free time seemed completely gone.

After club season ended, I realized I wanted to do more with my life. I got a job that made me realize I enjoy working with kids. I joined Earth Club—I picked up garbage on the highway and planted trees in my community—and I learned how I can make a difference. I joined track and cross country, and gained a personal record in the 300 meter low hurdles and completed my first 4K.

I saw there is a world outside of volleyball—a world I wasn’t exposed to—and I found being cut wasn’t as bad as I thought.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has a multitude of opportunities I could partake in. I will find a new job. I will join a club to help the La Crosse community. I will do something different and something other than volleyball.

It’s time for me to continue on a new direction in my life, and I believe that UW-Stevens Point is the place to go.