Growing up, I played every sport I could and eventually focused more on lacrosse and ice hockey. I was often on multiple teams at a time and had to learn how to manage that schedule at a young age. After I decided to focus on hockey, I transferred high schools where I was able to leave early to train, which taught me how to balance school and athletics while continuing to excel in both. Mental health has always been a topic I am passionate about because I have struggled juggling all the challenges life has to offer while remaining steady on the ice and I know every other student athlete has struggles with this as well. My experiences will allow me to offer help to younger athletes who need guidance on the academic and athletic aspects while making their mental health a priority.

No matter what sport you play, the game is constantly advancing! Throughout my lifetime of involvement in different sports I have learned that training and strengthen your mental abilities is just as important as training your physical abilities. As the sporting world continues to grow, so does the feeling of pressure and the need to be perfect which can take a mental toll on athletes. Therefore, I want to help support young athletes in their own unique experiences and provide guidance through the lessons that I have experienced during my youth and current NCAA student athlete level. I believe that having a mentor and someone that you can confide in is a powerful and beneficial strategy.

I want to be a mentor for athletes because I’ve been where they are—and I know how powerful it can be to have someone believe in you, guide you, and remind you that you’re more than just your sport.

I want to be a mentor because I know how important it is for young athletes to have guidance while navigating youth sports. Competitive youth sports is not easy, but having someone who went through it before, to guide you in the right direction and help you succeed is very beneficial to the process. I wish I had this type of mentorship when I was growing up and can’t wait to help some other young athletes !