Athletics Student Blog

There are three things in life of which I am certain:

•1.       Everyone needs to spend some time in Marion, Alabama

•2.       Separation makes the heart grow fonder

•3.       You have to be happy with your own life

So, let's start with number one shall we? Marion, Alabama is just one of those towns in which you cannot truly appreciate life without spending at least some part of your life here. When my mom (being a Marion native) turned 18, she joined the Air Force. She wanted to leave the small town life behind. So, you can only imagine her surprise when I told her that I wanted to head to Marion for college! The small town life is not for everybody, but everyone needs to experience it. It makes you appreciate everything you have a little more. I love going out to eat at the Mexican restaurant and the waitress there knows what I want to order! She KNOWS!! It's the connections that you make with people here that in other places you would never get a chance to know!

Secondly, distance makes the heart grow fonder. It sounds pretty self explanatory, right? Not hardly! When someone you love goes away for awhile, it's definitely hard. You think that two months without talking to someone would be ok, right? You make it ok even when it's not.  You get up every morning and you continue on without complaint, because you know that what they are going through is much harder than the class you have to go to or the test you are about to take. You wonder what I'm talking about and who is missing in my life? Only my best friend; Coast Guard boot camp has taken him away from me, but I know that our relationship is strong enough to survive two months. I miss him every single day. I couldn't be more proud of him.

And the last thing that I am certain about is happiness. You have to be happy with your life and where it is going. You can't let your life be dictated by others. The only thing you can do is be yourself and not worry about what others think. You have to make yourself happy. All you've got is all you can give. If you aren't happy with your own life and where it's going, make the change. There is only one you and be proud of it. Enjoy each day like it could be your last.

Just some things I've been thinking about. Hope it helps someone else out there!

-Sam

I just got my underwater camera back from being developed, so I thought I would share some of my pictures!! ENJOY!!

Judson softball News: Elyse McIntyre hits GRAND SLAM against Bishop State in Mobile!

With our new uniforms on, we stepped on the field this past weekend in Mobile, Ala. to play Bishop State. The Lady Eagles won 3 out of 4 games which brings us that much closer to nationals. Many games have gotten cancelled (& soon rescheduled) because of the weather, so I really do not have that much softball news to report.

But, as always there are learning experiences everywhere and sometimes it is hard to come together as a team. Team to me means family and slowly but surely, I can see us transforming into one.

We learned a lot about ourselves as a whole unit this weekend. One person can't win the game; we have to all want it together. It should be our number one priority to step on that field and be one UNIT. We are a team, we win together, and we lose together.

You have to go out there with the intensity needed to get the job done. One of my all time favorite Coach Jones quotes would have to be "Hit like you live... Hard". I think it says it all. If we mess up we mess up full out. If you go hard and put the effort into it then good things will happen.

We lost the first game because of this. We knew the team we were playing wasn't on par with our abilities, but we got beat. After having a team "powwow," we came together and brought back 3 wins! I've always been told that "Great teams come back and win" and that's what we did. We didn't get down and defeat ourselves. We took the loss as a learning experience and changed our attitudes.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40:31)

 One of my all time favorite movies would have to be the great American classic, Gone with the Wind. It's one of those movies I like to watch when I need a pick me up or even that time needed for myself. The movie itself has never really gotten me thinking before now, though. There is a part very close to the end where Ms. Scarlet says,

"Oh, but I'm not that same girl anymore."

This got me thinking about how much I've changed over the last year and how I'm really not that same girl anymore.  A lot about me has changed and I would say for the better. I'm not that same shy freshman that I was when I first came to Judson.  I've learned that being myself is the only real thing that matters. I wish I would have learned it years ago. The things that you think matter in high school no longer matter. Times have changed and are

Gone with the wind.

Judson College has made me into the person that I was supposed to be. God brought me to this school for a reason. I believe that truly, because Judson College was the only school I visited!  When I stepped foot on this campus something came over me, and I knew this was where I was intended to be. I'm more independent now than I was that short year ago, but still learning. Learning and growing are never without their down falls, but I guess that goes along with "if you fall make sure you get back up."

 I believe that I am capable of handling life's curve balls with maturity and it's all because of how much I have grown up. I guess that is the correct terminology for this feeling. I've grown up... I'm not that same girl anymore. I can handle the bumps in the road, with God by my side and in my heart. I've struggled to find who I am today and I'm not letting that person go, the same way that Scarlet did in the movie. She grew into the woman she was in the end by fighting her way up even when she was at her lowest moments in life. She kept pushing for success and didn't stop because after all....

"Tomorrow is another day."