My Valpo story begins long before I became a student. I was actually born in Valparaiso, Indiana, and even took my first steps here. My family moved away when I was still young, but 18 years later, I found my way back.
It wasn’t until I began applying to colleges that my dad told me he had also earned his master’s degree from Valparaiso University. At the time, I was focused on finding a smaller school with strong academics where I could continue my soccer career. Valpo seemed like the perfect fit and quickly became my home away from home. Little did I know that choosing Valpo would mean so much more than that.
While soccer may have been what brought me back to Valpo, it was the people I met during my freshman year who truly made it feel like home. I could often be found in the Brandt [Hall] lobby playing pool with my teammates before being way too easily convinced to go get a sweet treat with some of the football players. What started as a simple nightly routine of hanging out even led me to meeting my boyfriend. Some of my favorite memories are blasting music in the car while driving around Valparaiso and campus with my friends. I even grew to love my walks to the library for study tables as the sun set across campus. Looking back, it’s the little moments like these that made Valpo feel so special.
In the spring of my freshman year, I took a chance on sorority recruitment and found another home in Pi Beta Phi. The seniors quickly became inspiring mentors and women I looked up to. I knew I had found a community that would both support and challenge me. Being involved in fraternity and sorority life has opened up a whole new side of college that I might have missed out on as an athlete. I’ve attended so many events and met people I likely wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise. During my time in Pi Beta Phi, I’ve had the opportunity to take on two leadership roles that have taught me so much about myself and what it means to be a servant leader. These experiences have challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and lead with empathy.
Beyond the friendships and communities I’ve found at Valpo, the College of Business has played a huge role in shaping my academic and professional journey. As a finance major with minors in marketing and economics, I spend most of my time on campus in Urschel Hall. I’ve grown so comfortable there because of the people who make it so welcoming. I was recruited as a social media marketing intern for the College of Business and quickly built strong relationships with faculty and staff. My business classes have challenged me to become not only a successful businesswoman but also an ethical, empathetic, and values-driven professional. The College of Business motto, “Do Well By Doing Good,” has become more than just a hashtag I use in almost every social media caption. It’s a mindset that my Valpo education has taught me to carry into everything I do.
While Valpo has given me so many opportunities outside of athletics, being a member of the women’s soccer team has remained one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience. I had been dealing with injuries for years leading up to college and was injured again during the fall of my freshman year, but the coaching staff still took a chance on me. Looking back, I now view that difficult time as a blessing. It allowed me to learn from the sidelines and observe what it truly means to be a good teammate and leader. I was eventually able to recover and have been fortunate enough to experience two healthy seasons since.
My team has become my foundation. From countless hours on bus rides to away trips spent in hotels, we’ve shared so many experiences together. But more than anything, my teammates have become my biggest supporters. They’re the people I turn to first and the people I know I’ll love for the rest of my life. We’ve experienced plenty of ups and downs together, but I truly believe the lessons I’ve learned through being part of this team are priceless.
The women’s soccer team also brought me my best friend, Alyssa [Thomas ‘28]. She transferred to Valpo during my freshman year, and I’ve had the privilege of watching her grow both on the soccer field and professionally. Whether we’re getting chips and queso at a Mexican restaurant in Valparaiso or making our daily Diet Coke run, she’s become one of the greatest blessings Valpo has given me. I can’t imagine my college experience without her.
Looking back, it’s funny to think that the place where I took my first steps would also become the place where I’ve taken some of the biggest steps toward becoming who I am today. When I chose Valpo, I never could have imagined the opportunities and memories that would come with it. I’ve grown in so many ways, but the people I’ve met along the way have made the biggest impact on me. Soccer may have been what brought me back to Valpo, but the people are what made it home. I will forever be grateful that life brought me back to where it all began.
