Seven months. Seven months is all it took for Junior Varsity lacrosse player Victoria Rossi to become a Division 2 collegiate athlete. But just how did Rossi pull it off?
At first, it was just for fun, but then it became serious. But then, from doubts to triumph, Rossi sheds light on her experiences and outcomes as a player and how she wouldn’t change a single thing.
Rossi started playing lacrosse in eighth grade during the peak of COVID. She would always practice with her friends whenever she had the time. After practicing for a good while, she joined the ninth-grade team. When tenth grade came around, Rossi found it demanding to keep up.
She spoke about how tenth grade was a challenging time. Rossi struggled to find motivation to play after her mental health plummeted to an all-time low. Rossi also learned that finding a sense of community wasn’t easy. Since she had started late in the year, seeking belonging within her team was harder.
Despite all this, something inside her changed, and she looked to turn all of her struggles into motivation.
In eleventh grade, Rossi had an absolute change of faith and heart. She decided she needed to work harder to become a more well-rounded player. Rossi asked herself, “How could I improve,” and that was the beginning of her successful journey. From then on she was constantly on her grind. Rossi went to every pre-season practice from October up until March. She even went as far as to come early and train for extra minutes, sometimes hours before practice. This had a tremendous impact on her playing skills, and she consistently improved every time she stepped on that field. Rossi’s improvements were recognized, and she was eventually selected to sub as the varsity goalie.
The most significant part of her journey is Thomas Jefferson University, the college that aided her in accomplishing her goal.
After hearing about their outstanding lacrosse team, Rossi sought the perfect opportunity. She got in touch with the team’s coach, and from there, everything seemed to fall into place.
“I was like, ‘Woah, this is finally happening,’” Rossi said.
Going from Junior Varsity to Division 2 is a big leap, but Rossi is willing to take it on at full strength. She was satisfied with the opportunity given to her as she felt her hard work had paid off. Her drive and determination is the reason she got where she is today, and her accomplishments would not have been possible without them. Besides the sport itself, Rossi is excited to embrace the strong sense of community on her future team, to hone and refine her skills, and to have fun while enjoying her time at college. She appreciated how welcoming the team made her feel and hopes to build more bonds and friendships with her peers.
Victoria’s advice for anyone who feels they should give up is not to sell yourself short. You must seize every opportunity, even if you must create it for yourself, and make connections by reaching out to others.
“Advocate for yourself. It’s uncomfortable and nerve-racking, but I never would’ve gotten to where I am now without trying,” Rossi stated.