Nine years ago, I was a seventh grader playing my first season of field hockey. I fell in love with the sport quickly, and the idea of playing in college came soon after.

That year, I met my first college coach, Raenee Savin, and it was like meeting a celebrity. In the short five minutes of speaking with her, I knew that I would play at LIU Post if it was the last thing I did.

Four years later, I was a junior in high school looking to get recruited. My heart broke when Raenee told me that she wasn't recruiting a goalie for my year. It was understandable. Most teams only carry two goalies at a time, so if the position is already filled, there's nothing you can do about it. But I was lost after that. I had no idea where to go, or what coaches to talk to. Everywhere I went just didn't feel right, and every coach I spoke to didn't make me feel anything at all.

By March of my senior year, most athletes looking to play in college were already committed. I was close to giving up and saying, "maybe I'll just play club hockey somewhere." But then I got a phone call from Raenee. She told me the tables had turned and she needed a goalie. When she asked if I was interested in taking the position, I told her I would think about it, but I didn't have to think at all. Within a couple weeks I was signing my letter of intent.

People asked me all the time if I was sure I was making the right choice; they thought I made my decision too fast, but I didn't care. All I could say was that going to LIU Post just felt right. I wasn't wrong.

These past four years have been nothing short of everything I ever wanted. I'm playing college field hockey, getting an education, and I've met some of the best friends I'll ever have. I've come to find that I have a family here at LIU Post.

Even if we all don't know each other's name, we greet each other, wish each other luck, and congratulate or console one another. We all talk about our Post Pride, but it's not just something we say we have; it's something we all feel. We come to be a family here. Whether you're from Long Island, or from a different country completely, we all take pride in calling LIU Post our home.