F I G H T

When thinking about my Senior Story that is the first word that comes to mind; “Fight”. It is something I constantly tell myself to do in life. My college experience has been nothing short of what I would have expected, even if you would have told me it when I first got here. So for my senior story I want to do just that; share my story. I want to explain how life can throw you every curve ball possible, but through my experiences I've learned you can hit them out of the park.

My story

When I was a junior in high school the last place I was thinking about was Lenoir-Rhyne University, and the Women’s basketball team. It wasn’t until Coach Starkey and his staff came up to me at Freedom High School and introduced themselves that I thought twice about them. Coach Starkey provided me the opportunity of a lifetime and that was to go to college for free and to play the game I love so much, basketball. I would have been a fool to say “NO”. At that point in time I was still a little iffy about going just because I had my mind set on going to Florida and being at the beach. It really wasn’t until Coach Starkey and the team made me feel like a Bear, which didn’t take too long, that I decided LR was the place for me. They were at almost every single one of my games my senior year and saw me get ejected from a game and still wanted me (I will never be able to live that story down as long as I live so I figured I might as well add it in here somewhere haha!) I knew from those moments that I was heading where I was suppose to be. It wouldn’t be until my junior year I found out why it would be so important though. I don’t want to get ahead of myself too quick though, because there are many great memories before then.

Freshman year

What would I do without good ole’ freshman year. I learned very quickly that I wasn’t the big shot anymore. I was back to square one and didn’t quite know what to do, but thanks to the eight seniors that I could reach out to and two amazing other freshman I made it through with. I learned that respect comes with time and the older girls really know what they are talking about. I still can’t thank them enough for all they did for me and still continue to do. Also for my two freshman buddies for sticking it out with me and always having my back through everything. Throughout all of the trials and difficult situations I still did not realize my purpose for being at LR yet though. It wasn’t until my junior year when I actually figured out why all of this made sense.

Junior Year

Some people say losing someone is the worst thing that could ever happen, but luckily I learned from someone very special that you take what life throws at you and you use it to make the world a better place. I lost my mom at the beginning of my junior year, for sure the most difficult thing that I have E V E R had to go through. My mom was not only my mother she was my best friend, my right hand, my support system, and my light in a dark room. She was literally my everything and losing her caused so much pain, anger, and heart ache. During this time I learned that the strength she gave me throughout life would be what got me through and it did. Like God said, he gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers, and I truly believe, while sitting here writing this, that is was all apart of His plan. It was for a bigger purpose than I could have ever imagined. I sit here and say thank you Mom, thank you for always instilling in me that I am strong and that I am a fighter and to never back down from anything. Through all of this I finally found my purpose and reason.

My reason and purpose

My reason for coming to LR was to play basketball and get my degree, but after experiencing LR over the past 3.5 years, I know that it was to be able to stay close to home and be there for my Mom; to comfort her and try to be her light in the dark room. My reason now is to live my Mom’s purpose out. To take every day and cherish it because you never know when it will be your last. Give everything you have whole heartedly to the ones you love and care about and do things with passion and heart. My purpose is to now show others my strength and tell them my story so that one day they too will have the strength and courage to continue to fight and stay strong when life throws them a curve ball. This is what it is really about, finding your reason and purpose in life.

I thank Lenoir-Rhyne for showing that to me.