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The summer workouts are done.
The first day of my last year of volleyball at the University of Oklahoma is here.
It’s starting to hit me.
I’m so grateful for my career at OU and for my health which has allowed me to play volleyball at the collegiate level for this long.
The funny thing is, initially, I wasn’t very interested in OU.
I grew up playing on club and school teams in Wisconsin, so when I decided to pursue a collegiate career, OU wasn’t on my “dream school” radar.
Then, one day, I randomly hopped on a call with an assistant coach from Oklahoma.
The call went so well, I decided to give the campus a shot.
And my campus visit was so unexpectedly positive.
I connected with the team and coaches immediately and committed my junior year of high school.
Their family atmosphere is unlike any other, so even though I’m far away from Wisconsin, I’ve found genuinely kind people who cultivate a safe home for me here.
I have so much love for this team, our coaches and the athletic staff.
Each and every one of us is a priority; not just as athletes, but as human beings.
We have everything we need to be successful and to be well.
I’ve been grateful to have mostly been in a safe and healthy headspace while competing, but some athletes aren’t as fortunate.
That’s why I am so passionate about student-athletes’ well-being and mental health.
I want to do everything I can to help others, the same way OU has helped me.
Meaningful Mondays
My sophomore year of college, I was fortunate to start in several matches, but I felt a wake up call to support my teammates and other OU teams off the court.
It was an incredibly difficult time for student-athletes across the country.
Headline after headline mentioned another student-athlete taking their own life.
The stories were gut-wrenching and terrifying, and they hit home.
One of my friend’s moms had died by suicide.
I was scared, and I knew I needed to do something to help.
I didn’t want OU to be in the next headline.
I reached out to Dr. Dolores Christensen, the Director of Psychological Resources for OU student-athletes (PROS).
I told her we had to do something.
I didn’t know what my plan was yet, but I was too scared to ignore the threat of athletes feeling alone.
Dolores listened to my concerns and supported me immediately.
She was completely on board, even before I fully articulated my vision.
Our first meeting lasted over two hours.
She kept encouraging me to keep going with this plan, “our student-athletes are worth it.”
With her support, I reached out to some of my coaches, and we collectively came up with the idea to start a campus organization called “Meaningful Mondays.”
I chose the name because, when people are struggling with depressive thoughts, it can be challenging to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
I wanted our meetings to consistently remind student-athletes of their worth outside of their sport.
They are a student, a son or daughter, a future professional and, most importantly, a human. They are more than an athlete.
Then, I chose to host our meetings on Mondays because I wanted to create a space where people could kick off their weeks on a positive note.
I wanted to give them something to look forward to after long weekends of traveling, competing and studying.
We created a space where student-athletes can decompress and be around others who understand what they’re going through.
I start and end each session with a little moment of gratitude.
I challenge everyone to think of something they’re grateful for and hold onto that for the week.
It could be just one word.
But I want them to hold on to that when things get hard.
Just as a little mindset thing, you know?!
I also do one-word check-ins.
We go around and say one word about how we’re feeling.
If people are comfortable with sharing more, they can.
But sometimes speaking one word aloud is enough to take a little weight off their shoulders.
We try to balance the seriousness with light-hearted icebreakers.
A question as simple as “What’s on your Christmas list?” can help us connect.
Meaningful Mondays have been a blessing in my life, and I hope it continues to be a blessing in the lives of others.
I’m not sure what it will look like in the future, but that’s okay.
As long as I can continue to help one person at a time, I will continue to reach out.
The OU Difference
I can’t speak highly enough of my teammates, coaches and the broader OU athletic staff.
For example, Dolores and the entire athletic department’s Psychological Resources for OU students (PROS) team, continue to support my volleyball career and Meaningful Monday initiative today.
She connected me to PROS interns who believe in my mission to speak and be listened to and cared for.
The PROS mental health staff also attend our meetings each week, even though they’re after hours, in case any of us need extra help or support.
As OU celebrates PROS’ 20th anniversary this year, I can personally attest to its value for student-athletes.
They’ve given me the guidance, encouragement and resources I need to support others.
The PROS team was the first of its kind in the country for student-athletes, and I hope we continue to set an example for other programs to follow.
Every athlete deserves this level of care.
I’m so excited for my final season as a Sooner, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds after I earn my Master’s degree.
I’m ready to give it my all, and I’m so grateful to be surrounded by my OU family each and every day.
