Experiences of a Graduating Student Athlete

Time is what you need on your side when you are a student-athlete at Cleveland State University. As I am a student-athlete that started my journey the fall of 2004, there are only positives I can say. In 2004, I was a freshman playing for Derrek Falor, who was the first coach to take the reins of the women's soccer program for Cleveland State. I unfortunately tore my ACL freshman year and had to sit out the first year for the women's soccer program. I continued my soccer career and finished this year (2008) as a fifthyear senior. I was co-captain for the ladies in white and green and the team had a record of 8-9-1. I am so proud of this program and where it has gone in the last five years that I wish I could continue playing with the team to have more memories and to experience the records that will be broken.

Throughout the years, I have had a lot of help with academics and with improvement on the field. Being a student-athlete is not as easy as one may think. In our department, one must go to every class because the coaches will always check up on you. One must attend practices/weight lifting and the team also has meetings with coaches and/or players. And a student -athlete must also do four hours of study hall each week, even on the road at away games.

Even though being a student- athlete looks like there is a lot of work to be done on and off the field, I would not change anything for the world. Being a senior, I have received the senioritis disease and can not wait to take my life to the next level, but I will never forget the friends and memories that I gained throughout my five years at Cleveland State.

As hard as we have worked, we were not alone in the fight to success. I would like to thank the staff of the athletic department. If it were not for the people behind the scenes it would not have been possible. It truly was a "team" effort and I consider the athletic department a family as we all work together to promote great athletic teams.