4 Things I Didn’t Expect as a Division 1 Athlete

Before arriving at Manhattan University to play Division 1 lacrosse, I thought I had a pretty good grasp of what life would be like. I grew up surrounded by it. My dad coached Division 1 lacrosse my whole childhood, and I spent plenty of time in the locker room, on the sidelines, and in the athletic center. On top of this, I had two older siblings who played Division 1 sports.  

I knew about the early mornings, long conditioning sessions, and packed schedules from the outside looking in. But what I did not know is that there are some things that you can’t understand from the sidelines. There are some things you can only truly experience by wearing the jersey yourself.  

Here are four things I didn’t expect when I became a Division 1 athlete: 

You Spend More Time with Your Teammates Than Your Family

Before college, I expected to spend a lot of time with my teammates. I will say, I did not expect to spend almost every second with them. Between living together, practices, trips, meetings, and classes, I spend nearly every day with them, sunrise to sunset. 

By early freshman year, they were already family. On the field, they are the first people I celebrate after a victory and the first shoulder I cry on after a loss. But our friendships extend far beyond just Gaelic Park.  

Living alongside people who experience every high and low with you means you are never alone in how you’re feeling. And being on such a big team, I’m lucky enough to have around 30 people in my shoes.  

I have friendships outside of my team which I still cherish deeply. But nothing truly beats sitting on the couch after a long day with all my roommates, debriefing everything that happened to all of us.  

It sounds cliché, but that's true family and those are the small moments I will remember and treasure even more than the end results of games. 

Jaspy Awards, May 2026

You’ll Learn That Comparison Never Ends

I can admit I am a victim of comparison. All throughout high school and some parts of college, I let comparisons invade my thoughts. I was constantly comparing playing time, statistics, performance, and skill, obsessing over other people's results. The truth of the matter is that there is always going to be someone stronger, faster, or more talented than you.  

The more I let other people's performances cloud my thoughts, the more I realized I was losing sight of my own personal growth. Comparison is an unwinnable game. Every athlete is on a different path, and by comparing yourself to other people, it only takes the focus away from being the best player that you can be.  

The only person you should compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday. Division 1 lacrosse taught me that focusing on someone else's success only takes away your own success. Especially in a team sport, there is room for everyone to grow. The moment you start competing with only yourself is the moment you will start to see progress.  

And progress doesn’t always have to be linear. One day you take one step forward, the next you take two steps back. But effort, communication, hard work, and being a good teammate can all be controlled and can always be increased. Those are the things worth competing over every day. 

Your Schedule Is Made for You

Every day is scheduled around lifts, practice, classes, treatment, study hall, homework, and traveling. With a schedule like this, it can be very difficult to find free time. Because it is not built around what you want to do. It is built around what is needed from you.  

Free time becomes something you have to intentionally set time in the day for, rather than just automatically having it. Which slightly defeats the purpose of the title “free time”. It can be difficult to make the most of this time, especially when days are so long and the most appealing thing is to lay in bed and do nothing.  

It is important to find motivation in yourself to maximize this free time and do the things you love, to stay grounded and remember your identity outside of lacrosse.  

I personally love having a schedule made for me. I thrive when surrounded by structure, and although having a busy day is tiring, it makes me feel purposeful and productive. Being occupied for the majority of the day allows me to take advantage of every free minute I get and really make the most of it. 

You Learn to Show Up on Your Worst Days

There are times at school when, honestly, I wake up and dread going to practice. My alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m., I’m staring at the ceiling and I’m thinking, “There is no way I can do this today.” Maybe I wake up not feeling 100%, maybe I was up late studying the night before. Whatever it is, the thought of practice feels like a weight on my shoulders. 

College athletics has taught me that sometimes in life, you must continue to show up even at your lowest. Not every day is going to be easy, and you aren’t always going to feel your best. But the hard days are usually the ones that teach you the most. 

The hard days also have a way of reminding you how important the people that surround you are. The people who are your support system in getting through those tough days. My roommates, teammates, professors, and trainers all feel like a small light at the end of the tunnel when a long day starts to feel overwhelming. A quick conversation, a laugh, a high five, and even just a smile can make all the difference. And maybe I experience these moments everyday, but it’s the hard days that make me appreciate them the most.

Some days, your best effort is going to look different than other days. And part of being a collegiate athlete is learning how to accept that while continuing to work hard. Consistency is not defined by perfection; it's defined by how often you are willing to take the punches, get back up, and move forward.  

This is one of the greatest lessons collegiate athletics has taught me. 

Being a Division 1 athlete has taught me so much more than how to be a better lacrosse player. It has taught me how to build and appreciate lifelong friendships, focus on my own journey instead of someone else's, make the most of every free moment, and continue showing up even on days I don’t feel my best. These are all lessons that step past the field, and I will carry them with me long after my college career ends.