The past two years has truly been full of changes; changes in community, changes in my life and especially a change in my future. Through these changes, one goal of mine has always remained constant - progress. I attended Wilbraham Monson Academy in hopes of receiving a division one athletic scholarship but also a high quality private education. At the time it seemed to be the most viable option for not only a successful future but also an opportunity to move forward. After a very successful season in one of the most elite high school conferences in the country, I finally had the opportunity to sort through my offers and decide what school would benefit me most. I sincerely wanted the responsibility of being a role model, one who demonstrated a since of integrity, pride and selflessness, to younger student-athletes who aspired to be in the same position where I was. The day I signed to Hofstra University seemed to be the best day of my life, but in hindsight I have come to realize I did not take the time to explore other options because I was so fixed on the status of being a division one athlete. Nevertheless, I had to be ready to attend pre-season camp in August of 2010.
I arrived to Hofstra during student-athlete move-in day to find myself in a very different community to what I was accustomed to at Wilbraham Monson Academy. My new teammates interacted very little and did not exemplify the same team mentality that I had been successful with at the Academy. Although the team was deprived of any sense of unity off the field, they made sure you were held credible for any mistakes that hindered the team on the field. After a long and arduous season, which involved little socializing and team bonding, I began to lose confidence and passion for the game I was once so fervid of. After our regular season ended in November of 2010, I inquired a release from the team to reconcile with previous coaches I had been in touch with in the past, to hopefully transfer into a new school, new program and to have a new start.
Aside from athletics, Hofstra did not meet my expectations academically. I tried to stay rather optimistic after being fairly disappointed with the outcome of the fall season but I would be lying to myself to say I am satisfied with my classroom experience. One bittersweet advantage of attending one year at a university where I do not belong is the exclusive insight to what is truly important to me in a remarkable college experience. For starters, I want to attend a smaller school. There is nothing to benefit from a lecture with over 300 students and a professor who does not know your name. Secondly, I want to be around students who care about their work and not just their social life. Lastly, I want to be proud of being part of a community that I represent both on and off the field. I want to go to a school where I can look forward to returning after breaks, develop long lasting friendships and most importantly, I want to go to a school where I am happy. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once put it, "The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving."
I arrived to Hofstra during student-athlete move-in day to find myself in a very different community to what I was accustomed to at Wilbraham Monson Academy. My new teammates interacted very little and did not exemplify the same team mentality that I had been successful with at the Academy. Although the team was deprived of any sense of unity off the field, they made sure you were held credible for any mistakes that hindered the team on the field. After a long and arduous season, which involved little socializing and team bonding, I began to lose confidence and passion for the game I was once so fervid of. After our regular season ended in November of 2010, I inquired a release from the team to reconcile with previous coaches I had been in touch with in the past, to hopefully transfer into a new school, new program and to have a new start.
Aside from athletics, Hofstra did not meet my expectations academically. I tried to stay rather optimistic after being fairly disappointed with the outcome of the fall season but I would be lying to myself to say I am satisfied with my classroom experience. One bittersweet advantage of attending one year at a university where I do not belong is the exclusive insight to what is truly important to me in a remarkable college experience. For starters, I want to attend a smaller school. There is nothing to benefit from a lecture with over 300 students and a professor who does not know your name. Secondly, I want to be around students who care about their work and not just their social life. Lastly, I want to be proud of being part of a community that I represent both on and off the field. I want to go to a school where I can look forward to returning after breaks, develop long lasting friendships and most importantly, I want to go to a school where I am happy. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once put it, "The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving."