(Photo Courtesy of Chelsea Brennan)
By: Jen Richardson
Bangor, ME – Graduating from college is bittersweet for everyone. You’ve finished your schooling, you’ve got the world at your feet, and it’s time to move on. There’s no doubt that each graduate will take a lot away from their college experience. But, there is a type of student that may have the hardest time moving on. Student athletes.
December Husson University Graduate Chelsea Brennan feels the bittersweetness of leaving school.
“It makes you appreciate the little things that happened, and makes you wish you took those little moments in longer.” She says.
Brennan grew up playing all different sports: Soccer, basketball, baseball, and then transferred to softball at age eleven. She played these all through high school, but ultimately decided on softball when she chose to attend Husson. The biggest adjustment from her high school experience was the amount of time put into it. She had to choose just one sport because of the level of commitment a college team requires. Countless hours were spent practicing, in the weight room, and bonding with the team. The other big adjustment was to the level of play in college.
“It was a slap in the face… if you thought you played well in high school you were average around college players.” Brennan says. She grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and even though she ate, slept, and breathed sports, she still struggled to get used to college ball.
Husson Softball brought new experiences of all kinds. It brought disappointments such as working hard all season, just to let themselves down in regionals. It brought frustration when players argued or were upset with each other or the coaches. But it also brought some of the best days of Brennan’s life.
“One of my favorite memories, as goofy as it sounds, was the dance offs we had on the bus to a game. Everyone would jam to the music we had playing off the speakers. Some girls, depending on the years would get up and battle each other in the aisle. I can’t remember how many times I broke out in tears from laughing so hard.”
Playing all four years of school not only helped her on the field, but she developed friendships that are sure to last a lifetime. Although her first year did not result in a lot of playing time, she says it was her favorite season because of all the friendships she made. School and work would be enough to make any student crazy, Brennan says she doesn’t know what she would do without softball. It filled all the gaps in her schedule, formed bonds with other students, and taught her many life lessons she already uses post-graduation.
“The most valuable thing I learned was to never give up. No matter how hard practice was, how hard the workouts were, or how horrible the homework was, instead of giving up I had some great friends supporting me pushing me every step of the way.” She says. As simple as it may seem, it’s a mantra that arguably all student athletes learn and use along the way. As an athlete, she learned that you can only get through something by doing it. This is made much easier when you have an entire team and coaching staff supporting you.
As for life after softball, Brennan is having a hard time adjusting, but is still enjoying herself. She currently works at a company called Alternatives, providing care for individuals with different disabilities work on job skills and gain more independence. She is a part of an adult slow pitch co-ed team, so she still gets to participate in the sport that has ruled much of her life. Although she is back in Rhode Island, thanks to social media and modern technology she is able to keep tabs on her old team.
“I wasn’t ready to leave softball. It’s all I’ve known most of my life playing year round,” Brennan admits. No longer playing or studying with her team makes her miss it, but she is excited to move forward and hopes to coach someday. “I can only hope one day I will be as great as the coaches who taught me.”
