Before college, I spent ten years of my life clogging for a local studio. I loved dancing, moving my body, and the girls on my team, but I found myself being worn down by the catty nature that the dance community can have. When I came to Taylor University, I knew I wanted to keep being physically active, but I was ready to try something new. A senior on my floor happened to be the rugby captain and encouraged me to come out to the first practice. After that, I was hooked. The Taylor women's rugby team quickly became my closest group of friends and every practice we seemed to grow, not just in our ability and knowledge of the sport, but as people who found joy in loving one another. Rugby became the outlet of energy that I had hoped for, but also proved to be the welcoming community that I had always dreamed of finding. About three months into my rugby career, I got injured during a practice that took me out of the rest of the season. I was devastated at the thought of not playing, but even more concerned that I would miss out on the friendships I had found through rugby. Contrary to all of my worries, the rugby team surrounded me with love, and I was only able to grow closer to the team while I was injured. I have proved to be rather accident prone and have gotten injured several times now while playing rugby, but each time my team has come around me, truly like a family. At the first practice of this year, I had a panic attack for the first time in years due to overwhelming school stress that was crippling my ability to enjoy what I once loved. I was so embarrassed but I couldn't seem to catch my breath or recover on my own. My coach quickly had one of my captains take over practice and took me to the sideline where she let me cry until my head was cleared enough to communicate what was going on. I expressed my concerns of how to manage school, work, and rugby that semester and that I didn't want to be only able to give half of my effort to the things I care so deeply about. I did not want to give up rugby but wasn't sure how I was going to do it all. After a moment, my coach said "Kate...you will always have a spot on this team whether you play this semester or not." She began to tell me that she valued me greatly as a player, but even more as the person I am. That moment shifted the way I viewed rugby from more than a group of my really good friends and into a family that would be here for me with unconditional love. After practice, several of my teammates reached out to offer help or loving words and I ended up being able to play that semester, just at a more limited scope than I had before. Without this team, I would have crumbled into my anxieties, but this family pointed me back to the truth and I now stand with so much more assurance in myself and my studies. I've now been playing for two years and rugby has proved to be such a unique and gracious community, both on my team and the community as a whole. I would not be who or where I am without rugby and I am so excited to continue playing as long as I can.

Before college, I spent ten years of my life clogging for a local studio. I loved dancing, moving my body, and the girls on my team, but I found myself being worn down by the catty nature that the dance community can have. When I came to Taylor University, I knew I wanted to keep being physically active, but I was ready to try something new. A senior on my floor happened to be the rugby captain and encouraged me to come out to the first practice. After that, I was hooked. The Taylor women's rugby team quickly became my closest group of friends and every practice we seemed to grow, not just in our ability and knowledge of the sport, but as people who found joy in loving one another. Rugby became the outlet of energy that I had hoped for, but also proved to be the welcoming community that I had always dreamed of finding. About three months into my rugby career, I got injured during a practice that took me out of the rest of the season. I was devastated at the thought of not playing, but even more concerned that I would miss out on the friendships I had found through rugby. Contrary to all of my worries, the rugby team surrounded me with love, and I was only able to grow closer to the team while I was injured. I have proved to be rather accident prone and have gotten injured several times now while playing rugby, but each time my team has come around me, truly like a family. At the first practice of this year, I had a panic attack for the first time in years due to overwhelming school stress that was crippling my ability to enjoy what I once loved. I was so embarrassed but I couldn't seem to catch my breath or recover on my own. My coach quickly had one of my captains take over practice and took me to the sideline where she let me cry until my head was cleared enough to communicate what was going on. I expressed my concerns of how to manage school, work, and rugby that semester and that I didn't want to be only able to give half of my effort to the things I care so deeply about about. I did not want to give up rugby but wasn't sure how I was going to do it all. After a moment, my coach said "Kate...you will always have a spot on this team whether you play this semester or not." She began to tell me that she valued me greatly as a player, but even more as the person I am. That moment shifted the way I viewed rugby from more than a group of my really good friends and into a family that would be here for me with unconditional love. After that practice, several of my teammates reached out to offer help or loving words and I ended up being able to play that semester, just at a more limited scope than I had before. Without this team, I would have crumbled into my anxieties, but this family pointed me back to the truth and I now stand with so much more assurance in myself and my studies. Rugby has proved to be such a unique and gracious community, both on my team and the community as a whole. I would not be who I am or where I am without rugby and I am so excited to continue playing as long as I can.