A Sports Scholarship Abroad

I graduated from Mount Anville in 2017. I attended the school for 15 years and playing hockey there brought me some of my fondest memories. The sport then served as the key to my greatest adventure. Through an agent, I received a scholarship to the University of Vermont. I remember flying over pre-season and thinking what have I got myself into. However, when I arrived all the girls were lovely. One girl even complimented how good my English was – a statement she will never live down.

I must admit I did struggle at the beginning with homesickness and the stark difference of the hockey culture, known in the states as Field Hockey. NCAA Division 1 college programs in America treat you very professionally. This of course provides great benefits such as financial support, being spoiled with endless free gear, surplus of trips and access to a range of people to support you physically, mentally and educationally.

With this comes high expectations. Your coach is your boss and their job depends on the success of the team. You are training 5 hours a day, 6 days a week and every day at practice matters and if things are not going well, you run. I remember we lost a match my first year and we were told not to bring our sticks to practice for the next two days. Initially this was a huge shock to me how the sport I adored in school had soon become a job. Additionally, I struggled with how much they controlled what we could and couldn’t do with regard to drinking, curfews, social media and diet (which I suppose is fair since American food really can sneak up on you). For example, there was a ban on coffee my first two years so myself and a teammate would rip tea bag strings off and hang them out of our coffee cups to beat the system. I certainly was very jealous of those around me in the states and at home, who were thriving with their new freedom after school.

However, as I found my footing and understood how things operated, I started loving it. I changed my mindset and decided I didn’t want to just ‘get through’ the hockey side of this experience but make the most of the opportunity and really improve my hockey. I became more competitive and really tried to push myself in fitness and the weight room. Instead of comparing everything to Ireland, I embraced the American culture and everything it had to offer.

Likewise, my friends here love learning things about Ireland. They understand all the slang, Love Island cracks them up and they now know Dairy Milk trumps Hersheys any day of the week. The intense environment created some hard days but it toughens you up and develops you as a person. Moreover, it truly makes you bond more with your teammates and the locker room fun and game winning moments outshine the bad days.

The experience has taught me a lot about this country and provided me a new mindset. Everything is fast pace and nothing is done small, especially not Thanksgiving. I have been fortunate enough to visit and enjoy many States with my team – from going on colonial tours in Virginia and watching a Michigan State football game to knocking on Mrs Doubtfire’s door in San Francisco.

Last week, I played my last game for UVM and sang the American anthem for the last time (for anyone that knows me I sang this quietly and out of tune for four years). It was a very emotional day, especially since my family couldn’t come but it made me reflect on how happy I was that my 17 year old self decided to take the leap.

For anyone who is considering pursuing a scholarship and is on the fence, I hope you take the risk and I promise, you will never look back.