Howdy Wildcat fans,
As I am in the thick of my fifth year of college softball, all I can say is how thankful I am for what this sport has taught me as well as the caring people that I am surrounded by daily at the University of Arizona!
The question most frequently asked of me as a current college player is about the recruiting process and how I ended up at a school like the University of Arizona. Nearly every time I hear this question, I think back to a time when I was in their shoes playing travel ball asking college softball players the same question. If I had to tell anyone about the recruiting process, it would be to stay open to every opportunity that comes your way.
Everyone has their dream school in mind when they are an aspiring college softball player. This is something that I found to actually cloud my judgment when selecting a school, as I was recruited by schools that I liked, but also softball programs at these schools that I dreamed of playing for. When taking recruiting visits, I looked at what schools offered, the major I wanted to pursue as well as the head coach’s teaching style that I was hoping to flourish under. I went on many visits until I found the University of Arizona that didn’t just fit both of those needs, but it gave me even more.
When I went on my visit to the University of Arizona, I was immediately a fan of the school culture where everyone was so warm and welcoming. Also, the professors and the academic staff were people that catered to my learning style within academics. I remember to this day when I watched an Arizona softball practice for the first time. This is when I instantly fell in love with Arizona as a school and a softball program. From the way they took the field, to the way they took initiative, as well as the coaches and their style of practice/play! It was a fast-paced, smooth, and a hard work wins type of mentality that sold me. This was the kind of place where I wanted to compete and win a National Championship with!
More importantly, I realized during the process that it was not only being open to opportunities to play, but to commit to attending and enjoying college life at a school no matter what the outcome is within my sport. I say this because I have learned that many people chose a college based upon the sport that they play. Physical injuries, academic pressure, and daily decisions within college life can be a lot some days. Even though you are a part of a sports team, your sport and the people on your team are all you know as you spend most of your time training in both the off season and competing during season. To say the least, anything can happen at a moment’s notice, so it is in your best interest to choose a school that you can be a student at without being an athlete at as well. Overall, it is incredibly valuable to choose a school where you can see yourself enjoying a love for learning without participating in the sport of softball. This will allow you to fully buy into the culture and whatever else may come your way during your college career!
When I chose to play softball at the University of Arizona, I obviously wanted to play for a great program, but overall I had to put into perspective that if my sport was taken away from me, would I still be able to attend this school and be happy as a student? Surely, I think you can answer that question! My decision to play softball at the University of Arizona was not initially my plan, but it became my dream school the moment I stepped on campus. I became a Wildcat at heart and found my home due to the family culture, caring people, and the beautiful desert location of the school that many people overlook!
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