Dumb Jocks?

For my entire life, I have had to overcome the stigma of being an athlete.  I began playing basketball at the age of 5, and from there, the sport came to be one of my deepest passions.  On the court, I felt that I was in control of what I needed to accomplish.  I knew that if I worked as hard as I possibly could to prepare myself physically and mentally before competing, I would be able to perform my best during my games.  Even though basketball was my love, I still focused heavily on my academics.  For that reason, I was elated to discover that I was being recruited by W&M to play for their women’s basketball team.

My experience as a college basketball player was one that was filled with both highs and lows.  Freshman year was one of the toughest years of my life.  Although I played for many competitive travel teams, I was not prepared for the rigor of Division-1 athletics.  My days were consumed with learning in the classroom, and my afternoons and nights were filled with practicing and training on the court.  Late night hours were spent with my body wrapped in ice bags and my brain trying to understand formulas, paradigms, and theories.  I became more acclimated to the system as a sophomore and junior-learning the ropes and understanding how to better manage my time.  I learned to make use of free time by doing work on the bus and in hotels when we traveled for games.  I had to begin studying for exams earlier than usual to make up for lost time spent competing.  As a senior, I learned to deal with adversity.  I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and tarsal tunnel syndrome in my both of my feet, and as a result, I was prematurely sidelined from my sport.  In the blink of an eye, this activity that I had been doing for the last 16 years of life had come to an abrupt end.

I always tell people that playing basketball at W&M is the hardest-yet most rewarding-thing I’ve ever done.  I learned lessons about dealing with adversity, pushing myself to the highest level, working as a team, and being loyal to those around me.  Everyday I was challenged past the point of what I thought was even physically possible.  I was simultaneously challenged in the classroom past what I thought was mentally possible.  The fact that I was able to successfully meet those challenges is the accomplishment of which I’m most proud.  Many people stigmatize athletes as being less intelligent, receiving special treatment, and remaining solely focused on their sport.  The W&M Athletic department is one that prides itself on producing true student-athletes.  We compete both on and off the court and still graduate among the top in the nation.

Despite the stereotypes, I’m proud to have been an athlete.  I’ve been to places I never thought I could go, and now, I believe I can do absolutely anything.

– Kia Butts