THE ATHLETE CONFIDENTIAL
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Read our stories.

Human first, athlete second.

LIVING BEYOND LABELS: FROM SOFTBALL TO SPEAKING

SHARE YOUR STORY SERIES: Invisible struggles & rebuilding with purpose MY NAME IS Kelsey O’Connor & THIS IS MY STORY DI Softball Player | TAC Ambassador I started playing softball at seven years old, and very quickly it became completely connected to who I was. As I grew and deepened my love for the sport, I dreamed of playing in college and committed to that dream early. I would wake up at 4 a.m. to train before school, spend weekends traveling the country for tournaments,

Nov 16

When the Game Stops: Choosing Myself Over Hockey

SHARE YOUR STORY SERIES: WORKING THROUGH INJURY AND MAKING HARD DECISIONS MY NAME IS Makenna Chokelal & THIS IS MY STORY DI Hockey Player | TAC Ambassador To me, my freshman year of university as a D1 athlete felt like a series of unfortunate events. It began with moving away from home for the first time, jumping headfirst into university after finishing my senior year online, and taking a sabbatical year where I only took three courses in the spring of 2021. On top of that,

Nov 2

SPORT WASN’T EVERYTHING. IT WAS THE VEHICLE

I always thought basketball would be everything. That was the goal. The identity. The plan. But life had other ideas. There was a moment I'll never forget when I realized I couldn’t play anymore. I couldn’t bounce a ball, couldn’t suit up, couldn’t compete like I used to. And just like that, everything I thought defined me… vanished. It hit hard. Being an athlete was more than just a schedule or a title it was how I measured my worth. Without it, I felt lost. Disconnected. No

Oct 12