Gymnastics was my life. For as long as I can remember, it was my passion, my joy, my motivation, my purpose. It was the thing that made me special. It was empirical evidence that not only was I enough – I was the best. Like most highly competitive athletes in all season sports, it was my only sport. I spent …
Diary of an international kid
Receiving an offer to play collegiate basketball in the US, nonetheless at the school where basketball takes on a form of a religious experience, was an incredible moment in my life. From the first time I stepped on campus during my official visit, I felt “at home” – mainly because those around me seemed to have been living and breathing …
Mental Health: My Story
On April 8, 2016, I read a Facebook post reporting that Ex-Kansas University football player Brandon Bourbon committed suicide. “Oh no…no, no, no,” I whispered back at the screen. You would have thought I knew him. You would have thought we were related by the rush of emotions that took over. I didn’t know Brandon personally. But …
Lessons Learned
I really loved my college experience: the people, the atmosphere, the games, and the education. There were ups and downs, good and bad parts, but overall, I loved being a collegiate student-athlete. I can’t honestly say, however, that I would do the same thing again if I could go back. There are so many things I would have done differently …
My coach taught me how not to lead
As a Junior in high school, being recruited to play college basketball was a dream come true. Knowing I would have no financial assistance from family, a tuition-free undergrad, coupled with the opportunity to play for a reputable coach seemed too good to be true. The hours and practice I had spent working on all aspects of my game started …
HBS, a dream, and Trey: how HBS helped me launch my social enterprise
“Nice talking to you as well!” I hung up the phone and looked out the window of my company’s conference room, high above midtown Manhattan. I had just finished a call regarding my acceptance to Harvard Business School (HBS) with Matt Segneri, Director of the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative, and it was an impactful one. Not only was I impressed …
My journey to forgetting how to play basketball
I was a good basketball player. I write that because it is important to me that I remind myself that I was a good player, and good enough to get attention from over 80 schools. I was fortunate to have 5 D1 full ride offers going into my junior year of high school, one of them being with my dream …
Why I should have rehabbed longer
As a high school student-athlete, I dedicated an immeasurable amount of time to my trade. Not academics, but soccer. Countless hours spent practicing, playing, and watching soccer. While many have professional aspirations of professions ranging from law to medicine, heading into my freshman year in college my sole ambition was to be a professional soccer player. I went into my …
Dear Hockey, Goodbye
Dear Hockey, This is said with a heavy heart, but it is time to say goodbye. No, I won’t be out of your life; I just won’t be around as much anymore. This little kid that dreamt of playing at your highest level is turning the page and moving on to the next chapter of his life, and for the …
Make your elevator pitch more than just your athletic experiences
“You’re writing a thesis!?” “I am.” “Damn, that must suck right now. What are you writing about?” “College sports.” *Laughs*….. “Wait really? You’re actually choosing to write about that. Athletes just can’t be anything else huh?” That exchange started a conversation I had at lunch in the fall of my senior year at Amherst College. I wasn’t that close with …