What I've Learned, Part 1

College is the place where you find your bridesmaids and never miss a fraternity's party, right? Well, thankfully for me I only want 2 people in my wedding party and that Aquinas does not have Greek life. 

1. Patience - I am a very impatient person, and I used to be a lot worse. I tend to be impatient about a lot of things, including my love life, teaching my mother something new on the computer, the offense progressing, shopping, and lastly, school work. Seriously, I was that student that if I could not grasp a concept or solve a problem my first two times trying, I would move on/skip/pretend/guess it. I am not sure when the revelation occurred, but I have become much more patient when doing school work. I will re-read directions, take a deep breath and figure out the assignment I am doing. I look back and think about all the times I "gave up" on an assignment or theory because I was too impatient and antsy to sit down and solve it, and I think about how much more I could know (or about how much better my GPA could be...). But hey, at least I figured this personal issue out before I started graduate school and a full time job.
2. Events on campus - Aquinas is a small college, with 2500 students enrolled. However, Aquinas offers so much on campus in terms of resume builders, student events, athletic event, arts & music shows, community service opportunities, religious retreats and much, much more. I have realized that over my four years of college that although I have attended many more events than my fellow classmates, I have not attended enough to satisfy me. Being at Aquinas, I want to pass on to the other Saints that it is okay to attend a basketball game alone, or head to a baseball game with a group of friends even if you don't know anyone on the team, or even to a senior's clarinet recital that you haven't talked to since freshman year, or to organize a group of your friends to go cleanup a park on a Saturday morning. Aquinas has so much to offer and we barely take advantage of anything. I have really been living it up at Aquinas this last semester, trying to fit everything in, even if I have to go to events alone. I want to take this mindset into the real world with me to make sure I sign up for a volunteer association, to attend happy hours that are organized by a fellow young professional, to step out of my comfort zone and sign-up for a recreational basketball league. I want to make the most out of my life, and I want each one of you to make the most out of your college experience, especially if you attend Aquinas. In the end, attending the Career and Counseling Services workshops and participating in CAVA's Clean the Streets service activity will totally be worth it.
3. Go out - I am not advocating to go out every night, but rather once a week or when you have the time to. I understand how academically challenging college can be, but learn to prioritize. I have found that if you want to go to the "Jersey Party" on a Saturday night, but have a three chapter exam on Monday, to study during the day on Saturday, rather than at night. Whenever I have stayed in on a Saturday night (Yes, I know... hard to believe me being so popular and all) it defeats the purpose because I am unproductive and wish I was out and about wearing my Kobe Bryant throwback jersey like the rest of my friends. I am by no means saying to go out every single night of the week, but if you learn to have balance in your social and academic life, you will enjoy life as a whole more. 

   

   My family and I on my brother's
    graduation day just two years ago! 

   4. Drink coffee - I still can't stand the smell of coffee, or the taste of black coffee, but I am thankful for the energy and life coffee has given me when I have been near death. I think this coincides with my patience post and being determined in getting the job done, but coffee has come in clutch this past year when the only thing on my mind is taking a nap. Oh, learn how to make coffee because it will save you a ton of money rather than heading to Starbucks like me whenever I crave it. 

Think of college as a marathon... not a race

xx

Lilly Pulitzer

The brand Lilly Pulitzer will always fashion inspiration. 

Rest in peace Ms. Pulitzer!

.

xx

Senior Days

Senior Days are always emotional for each athlete, family and teammates. You want to send your teammates out in style, as a senior, you want to play your best game to date on Senior Day, and as a parent your emotions are ________. (I'll let you know...) Today was the AQ Women's Lacrosse Senior Day, and I was so excited to see two of my housemates, and two of my former teammates get recognized for all of their accomplishments. I played lacrosse my first two years at Aquinas, and have been the team's statistician my final two years. Although I am not technically on the roster, I love the lacrosse team as if it was my own. I feel as if these girls are genuine, fun and competitors. Lastly, the lacrosse team's parents are phenomenal... I could go on and on about the Terebinski's, McCarty's, Flewelling's, Roger's, Barrett's, Morrow's, etc., etc., etc. On every team there is drama, but at the end of the day, it's all about being able to put it behind you and compete.

The AQWLax Team photo at half time of the game today!

The girls presented me with flowers and a gift card
for keeping stats for team. 

Don't get me wrong, I loved playing basketball at Aquinas, but the team's cohesiveness this past season was not something I was fond of. Actually, it irritated me and kept me up on numerous nights because I could not figure out how to get us all to click and be happy. However, I was extremely pumped and motivated on my Senior Day, because my best friend, Ben, was coming to my game and he hadn't seen me play since high school. My parents and brother were also coming. A lot of AQ friends were there as well, including my brother's old housemates, my housemates and other parents that I've bonded with throughout the years at AQ (Yes, the Terebinski's made it!!). Senior Day for basketball was a "win or go home" game. We ended up losing 81-75, but I was most happy that my team for the first time in what seemed like forever went out leaving it all on the floor. We finally competed and hustled after every loose ball. Personally, I just wanted to play like the old Clare used to play; reckless, tough and mean. Thankfully, I did, at least in the second half. Although we did not win the game, I was content to finish the game without any regrets, and I made my last shot (...Something I told myself I HAD to do. I did it in high school too!)

Senior Day with my parents and coaches

I was blessed to be able to play basketball for all four years in college. Now, I came in with four girls, Liza, Karp & Tae and in typical girls basketball fashion, all three have hurt their ACL's. Karp & Tae redshirted their senior season, but will be back next year for redemption.  I was blessed to have never seriously hurt myself in 16 years of playing basketball (one serious sprained ankle during the summer was it!) I was blessed to have the BEST parents, who never said a negative thing to the AQWBB coaching staff. I was blessed to have my parents, family, and friends at so many games that it added as an extra inspiration to play harder. Lastly, I was blessed to make my best friend, Liza. These four years of college would have been dreadful and uneventful without her by my side. So, thank you Coach Nash for bringing Liza and I into the women's basketball program because at the end of the day, playing four years of basketball was worth it. 

The Original Four at Nationals, 2010!

The Original Four, Senior Day, 2013!

When it's time for your senior day, or your last hurrah at whatever it may be, go out on top and end on a make because it will make the end bearable. Thank you, Aquinas College family for making my four years here better than what I could have ever expected. 

xx

Time does fly

Four years ago I was a senior at Grosse Pointe South High School. 
The University of North Carolina, lead by Tyler Hansbrough, won the NCAA Men's National Championship. 
My basketball team was conference champions for the first time in 17 years. 
My track team won Regionals. 
I drove a Jeep.
I could not wait to leave high school.

After a successful attempt at high jump with Coach Lamberti

Before Grosse Pointe South's Senior Prom with
a friend I've had since KINDERGARTEN!

The Class of 2009 Varsity Girls Basketball Players

Now, I'm getting ready to graduate from Aquinas College in a month.
The University of Notre Dame Women's team is in the Final Four for the third year in a row.
My basketball team in college went 12-16 and underachieved in the WHAC Conference.
I run a few miles here or there to maintain my cardio... and because deep down I enjoy it.
I drive a Ford Fusion. 
I don't want to leave college.

One of my first games of my Senior year

Senior year Homecoming with some of my favorite AQ Saints!

Wow. Time has flown by. I have changed. I have learned. I have flourished. 

Oh, I leaned in!

Thank you, Sheryl Sandberg for inspiring me today during Levo League's "Office Hours." We all need to read her book Leaning In as soon as possible! It's next on my list, once I finish Jay Bilas' book! 

Stereotypes

Having a prom date or getting voted most likely to succeed? 
Well, Ms. Sandberg said, "You can decide its better to be most likely to succeed than to have a prom date, because it is." 

After this dance, I learned to always believe in myself

I could not agree more. I went to a few proms in my day, but I went to my high school's junior prom without a date and I treated it as the worst night of my life. I went in a group of 7 couples and myself, rather than in a group of girls without dates. I cried (yes cried!!) at photos because I was so ashamed (yes ashamed!!) of myself for not being "worthy" or "pretty" enough to have a date to silly junior prom. I left this dance approximately 45 minutes after I got there. Every time I look back on this memory, I become so disappointed in myself because I should have been more confident about going to a dance alone. All of the other proms I went to, I went with dates, and they were all awkward, dreadful and not fun. Although I didn't win "Most Likely to Succeed," I did win "Most Athletic," and that's something I'm more proud of than having had dates to dances, because I worked hard at sports my whole life and was well respected by my peers to receive all their votes. 

(After junior prom, I changed for the better and became more confident. I went to 6 dances senior year and had dates to all of them. Coincidence? I'd like to think so, but then again, it's just a silly dance.)

Stereotypes. My whole life I've defied stereotypes and redefined who I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to do (Like when I played Little League on an all boys team... and played middle-infield.) However, when it comes to the work force, I want to bring a skill set that is admirable and I want to change what is expected of women. I am a young professional, and I want to be prepared for everything that will come my way. Ms. Sandberg has defied stereotypes by being a female C.O.O. and raising a family. She taught me today that by leaning in and committing to my career, I will then develop balance. I could not agree more and I am excited for the upcoming challenges my future holds!

Don't call the little girl on the playground bossy... 
"She's not bossy, she has executive leadership skills"

xx 

My Favorite Easter Basket

The Easter Bunny spoiled me this year. I received two books from two of my basketball idols; my favorite player, Swin Cash and my favorite basketball analyst, Jay Bilas.

I am halfway through Cash's novel, and so far it is just reiterating why I have idolized her since I was in 5th grade. Having played collegiate basketball, dealing with the ups and downs in high school and college, fighting through back spasms, playing with stress fractures, but always having my faith and family to lean on, I realize Swin and I have so much in common. Swin truly is an inspiration to me and I'm thankful for that. 

Toughness is a novel that has had fantastic reviews. All coaches, no matter what sport, have been told to read this. All competitors, regardless if they play basketball or not, are told to read this. Every chapter has personal stories that teaches, develops and emphasizes the necessity of being tough, not just in basketball, but in life. Any book written by Jay Bilas is worth reading, I mean for goodness sakes, the man has fantastic basketball knowledge. One word of advice, follow Jay Bilas on Twitter because his tweets are meaningful and quite funny as well! 

I love basketball, and I love books about basketball. Every book I've read by anyone with a high basketball IQ has post-it notes and highlighters all throughout them. Thank you Easter Bunny for these two books! 

"To give up is to fail, because in losing you may have 

still won, because within you have conquered your 

fear of never giving up." -Swin Cash

xx- A Basketball Junkie

P.S. You'll never believe this.... I tweeted a photo of these two books to Swin Cash and Jay Bilas and I got a response back from BOTH of them! 

March Reading

Every year during March, Aquinas College and the Student Athlete Advisory Board promote their student-athletes to go to local grade schools to participate in March Reading Month. Over the past four years, I've enjoyed this service opportunity more than any other service venture I've done while being at Aquinas. 

I love to read, whether it's reading a novel, a blog, a newspaper or out loud to the seventeen animals I used to line up in my room and pretend that they were my class. There is just something about reading to a group of energetic elementary school students, who's eyes light up like it's Christmas morning, when we walk into the classroom. Having played collegiate basketball (and lacrosse), it is at this moment that regardless of where I played, Michigan State, Grand Valley State or Aquinas, it is still a HUGE deal. These kids look up to us and strive to be us! 

Today was the last day I will ever read to a classroom as an Aquinas College student-athlete. I have enjoyed the opportunities the past four years to do this (yes, even the two times I dressed as our Saint Bernard dog mascot "Nelson" and nearly sweated to death) and I hope to read to more classrooms in the future as a business professional. 

My reading buddies for the day! 

Future Aquinas College Saints with some currents Saints!

"Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life"

xx