Hello beautiful PLAers,

I wanted to write my post this week about confidence. I know the title is very cliche, as someone whether it be a parent or teacher has said that to you, but I wanted to reaffirm that it’s true!

Before coming to Penn State, I had very low confidence. I knew I was smart and optimistic, but I let things and people get in my way. I was told I was amazing a sports. In soccer playing the full 90 minutes, and basketball playing the full four quarters. I was told at a young age that if I continued putting in the work, I would be able to play sports in college. I was so excited as my dream was to end up in the WNBA. I loved sports. Being active and showing up to practice was my favorite part of my days. The leadership skills I was able to learn from being captain all throughout the years I played, to the friendships I fostered, sports became my passion. However, growing up I was also bigger than my peers. Whether it be size or height, I started getting bullied.

Something that still is embedded into my mind is when I played a 3v3 in 5th grade. I was the only girl playing, and the only “chubby” kids playing as well. As I went to do my favorite way to score a basketball, a layup, I did foul a kid. When I helped him up, he said “don’t knock me down elephant”. Now I know some of you may giggle, what is the big deal of being called an ‘elephant’. Well, at ten years old, it was a big enough deal to make wake up the next day and tell my parents I hated all sports and that I wanted to quit. There were other things that led up to it, like comments and looks, but that single sentence while doing my favorite thing, made me quit.

To this day, I do regret quitting because of being the ‘chubbier’ kid. However, I feel as though I have made it up to myself. During quarantine, I really took time to get to know who I am as a person. I learned that although I may be bigger than my peers, I am smart, determined, goal-oriented, kind, etc. My weight should not determine who I am as a person. In college I really elevated who I wanted to be. I applied for things and networked even though my social awkwardness would tell me not to. I didn’t listen to that voice in the back of my head. Instead listened to myself and heart. If you told eleven year old me that I would now be the student government vice-president elect, I would have thought you were lying. The girl that did not speak up for herself and thought she was not going to accomplish much, has now made me so proud.

This is all due to confidence. Now you may be wondering what are the steps I took. Well, having an amazing support system like my family has really helped a lot. They let me know my faults, but they also congratulate me on my wins. Another things is having alone time. I reflect on my daily life, things that went well and maybe things that did not go so well. This lets me know that although there are barriers in life, that there is a rainbow as well. My last tip is to know that you only live this life once, thus make the best out of it. Do not go through life thinking about ‘what ifs’.

So to summarize everything, confidence is key. Do what makes you happy!