The future can be both exciting and stressful for high school seniors. Especially student athletes pursuing their sport at the collegiate level, like seniors Lilly Pillay and Carly Bertolini.
Pillay will be attending Midland University and is looking forward to pursuing her volleyball career.
“I am super excited to get to know all the girls and to have new friendships! I am also excited to play at a high level with my new team,” Pillay said.
Verbally committing is a unique experience for the majority of athletes as it marks the end of your recruiting process.
Bertolini verbally committed in February and is set to be attending Bellevue University to continue her softball career.
“I’m excited to meet new people and to get the opportunity to play at the next level,” Bertolini said. “I’m nervous to get used to a college schedule.”
Making your commitment official can be both relieving and super exciting.
“I verbally committed during the summer in June,” Pillay said. “It was definitely a relief to finally be committed and officially done with the recruiting process. It felt better being committed because I went into my senior year knowing what my future looked like.”
Discerning about what college or university to attend can be difficult for any student, particularly for student athletes as there is a lot more to consider than if the school, location, your degree, and tuition is a good fit for you.
“I think the volleyball program is very strong and the girls seem to be close and really good friends,” Pillay said. “I do like that Midland is close to home but far enough that I won’t be home every day.”
Not only is scouting out your future team culture and teammates important, but the coaching staff as well.
“The pitching coach there has been mine since I was 8 years old,” Bertolini said. “It’s also close to home.”
Taking off your high school jersey for the last time can be sad because something that had been a part of you for so long is ending. It is also very exciting knowing what’s next, that the next time you put on a school team jersey for that sport, it will be your college.
“I am so excited to put on a Midland jersey! I know it is a great program and I am super excited to see what it brings,” Pillay said.
Just because something is ending, doesn’t mean that the memories and life lessons you learned during that time have to end too. You can take them with you as you attend college and go through the rest of your life, and make new ones everyday as really it’s just the beginning.
