"How to be a Bear"

Being a bear has been an experience I will never forget. From my coaches, to my teammates, everything has made me the person that I am today. I was apprehensive when I transferred here. Scared, nervous, and anxious to see what the next year would hold but my teammates took me in with open arms and I quickly became a member of something far greater than just a team, I became a part of a family! One of my favorite memories spent with my teammates was time in Puerto Rico over thanksgiving break. We had so much fun and it was an experience I will never forget! I would want nothing less than future bears to have as great of an experience as I did. When asked to give advice to future bears, there are a couple of things that come to mind:

• Always work hard, in everything. Don’t allow other people to tell you your dream about playing college basketball will not come true because they don’t think you are good enough. Keep working always to show them that you are!

• Don’t get discouraged. Work your way into your new coaches system. Build a relationship and a bond with your coaches. Always assume you are wrong even when you think you are right. College is about learning and building a better person in the next 4 years so that you can be an even better person in the real world.

• Always work hard even when people aren’t looking. Stay together and always remember the ultimate goal. NEVER be content.

These are just 3 things that I think will help any future bear be successful. All the memories will carry you a lifetime, but if you just keep looking forward, you can achieve any goal.