Random Homecoming Thoughts

When I left UConn, one of the questions I remember asking myself is, "How could I actually care about another school as much as UConn?"

I just figured nothing would be the same once I left.  I remember Mags telling me something that I wasn't sure I believed at the time, but now I know to be true.  Of her time at Hartford, which is not a Division I Powerhouse, like UConn is, she said you forget about the school you are at and you really just enjoy the team and student-athletes that you have.

She was completely right.

As I think back to Homecoming at Elon this weekend, I came to a very simple realization.  I'm much closer to the athletes at Elon than I ever was at UConn.  I had a much greater impact on the lives of the student-athletes at Elon, than I did at UConn. 

Time has a way of showing you who is and is not important.  I certainly still have UConn athletes, mostly Women's Soccer players, that I keep in contact with.  The list that I communicate with monthly is probably just two.  When I went and caught up with a few former players this summer in Storrs, there was some initial awkwardness.

I still encounter some of that awkwardness with Elon athletes now.  I went from meeting with them everyday, to seeing them for a few minutes once a month.

This is more of a stream of consciousness type of post.  I'm studying for the Series 7, so there is no need for me to really organize this when I need to be studying too.

One thing I am so grateful for and humbled by is the genuine delight that I seem to get from all of the people I run into at Elon.  Some of the students I work with really light up when they see me.

I had a big old lineman give me a huge bear hug, and pick me up in September.  I'll never forget when Dakota did that. 

I will never forget when Doane, Greg and Chelsea drove a couple of hours to see me and get dinner on my way home to Massachusetts from North Carolina.  I honestly had so much fun having dinner with them.  Everyone was laughing and smiling.  I did something right, because I was there academic adviser, not their friend.  That meant a lot to me.

Kim sent me a text message when I graduated with my MBA that is very special to me.  It means the world to me. 

Sydney and Espo and a few others wrote nice cards when they graduated, which I very much appreciated.  I treasure those and still have them.  They taught me a lot about myself.  Sydney taught me how much just caring makes a difference.

Shay left a nice note when I left too that I appreciated.

Having the throwers come to my MBA graduation and having Shay there was special.  My parents were in shock that I had such a loud cheering section and they are so proud of it. The three Bry, Bri and Bre are all nice and loud.  They love pointing out the cheers to those they show the video to.  It also meant a lot to me that one of the last things I did before walking towards the stage and getting my degree was to look up at Shay and Liggs.  Two students I advised.  They weren't there for just me, but it still meant a lot to me to see them there. 

Des and Lauren did something I will never forget either.  Both of them gave me hugs after they won the CAA Championship.  Those hugs were some of the biggest highlights I had doing my job.  I just felt like I did something right for them to want to celebrate with me when they won. 

I'm ending this stream of consciousness here.  It needs to end for now.  So many other stories and people should be written about.  Maybe I will. 

My last UConn thought is simple though, so before I forget, let me just say how happy I am that the UConn Women's Soccer program has such a great social media presence.  It's changed so much since I left. Yet I like to think I helped start the great student help that they now have.  I think I took things to another level and I'm glad people picked up what I started and ran with it.  The Instagram with video of goals is AWESOME!