"The Brains Behind the Words"

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In today’s newsletter:

• Introduction: This is more than just a recruiting newsletter.

• Rules of the Newsletter: I am not an English Major & I have opinions.

• A little about me: D1 & total BUST.

You are probably wondering what you are even going to get from this newsletter. Truth is, “processes” in ANYTHING are more than just understanding how to do something. External Factors play a big role in how you make decisions, how you feel about decisions, and what “things” you are willing to entertain (you get the idea). That said, you’ll get what you asked for (recruiting advice), but you are going to get the relatable life lessons too.. that is if you choose to keep reading. Anyways, there are a couple rules to this newsletter, things that you have to understand:

1. I love to write, I am an over communicator. But I am not an English major nor did I ever want to be. I graduated with a Masters Degree, but not in spelling or grammar. I care about spelling, grammar, sentence structure.. but not if it means taking away from the authenticity of the message I am trying to convey. So this is a JUDGEMENT FREE ZONE. Pay attention to the message and keep your red pen in your brain! ;)

2. My journey is not yours. My opinions do not have to be yours. The best humans/friends are the ones you can share differences with and they still hear what you are trying to say. This space is a place I have chosen to be vulnerable with you, sharing my story, my expertise, and experiences. Take from it what you will!

3. Lastly, I encourage you to give feedback on these newsletters. Comment, ask questions, tell me what you loved and even what you hated. Tell me what you want to hear. If I don’t have the answers, I will find someone who does!

4. There is no #4, that is it for the rules. Who has 4 rules anyways!?

I am not going to spoil my life story in one newsletter, but if you have been following me for a while you know this about me:

1. I had a dream of playing D1 college softball, and I was good enough to. I knew zero about the recruiting process and couldn’t understand why coaches were not just “contacting me". Also - This was WAY before social media, emails, Game Changer, Hudl.. were ever a thing. I sent letters with a CD of my skills to schools in the mail. I picked up my HOME PHONE to call college coaches and texting was on a “green screen” with black lettering on my Nextel phone. I promise you most of you will have to go look that up.

2. News flash, I never played D1 softball. I committed to a JUCO 3 weeks before school started… took a bunch of classes that had zero to do with any sort of 2-year/four-year plan. I earned some Region and Conference Honors, but one day I woke up and decided I wanted more. Contacted D1 schools mid-semester (bold move) and former Morehead State University Head Coach - Holly Bruder emailed me back stating I was talented, but they had no money for me. However, she did say her sister Heather (who was coaching at a D3 school in OH) had a OF spot open. Remind me to tell you about the Bruder sisters one day. Anyways, I was young, impulsive, and I wanted away from home so I went to Bluffton University mid-semester (ill tell you about that experience another time). Life happened, I was paying for school on my own, I did ZERO research about how my year and a half of JUCO classes would transfer to Bluffton. I was supposed to be a Junior and ended up being a Freshman at a $40K school. Guess what happened?

   (Fast forward) - Took a semester off

   I am now back at the JUCO (Spring) I was at prior to Bluffton University, but not as a player as an Assistant Coach. To make matters worse, I was coaching Athletes I had played with since I was 12. Interesting dynamic right? I am looking for another home in the meantime. A girl I played JUCO ball with was at University of Minnesota - Crookston (D2), I thought - “Hey, maybe I could play there?” After some…well.. A LOT OF RESEARCH - Most of my credits transferred but I was taking 18-20 credits a semester to be on the FIVE YEAR PLAN. I played D2 softball, graduated with a B.S. in Sport and Recreation Management and walked across the stage with $30k in school debt.

3. Woof, rough ending right? Not really. In further newsletters I will explain why.

I want you to know what in life lead me to this very moment. Sure, I’ll tell you about the mistakes I made, the choices I wish I would have made, the things I wish I would have done. It took me some serious reflecting to move on from some of the “stuff” that happened in between. I still don’t have it all figured out, some really smart people say you never will. But isn’t that what its all about? Let me ask you something - If you had the ability to know/see every obstacle that you will face… would you? I wouldn’t.

Until next time, #12 out.

“Even though I am in the storm, the storm is not in me” - The Afters