The Road Less Traveled

After graduating from the National Sports Academy in 2006 I didn't take the normal route to college. Most students after they graduate move on to college and pursue there education. As for me, well I took two years off to focus on just playing hockey. I started off my junior career playing hockey for the NH Jr. Monarchs. I then made two more stops throughout my two years after high school. I was in Cornwall, Ontario and Boston, Massachusetts. I get questions all the time like " aren't you upset your friends will graduate two years before you?" or " why waste your time playing hockey get an education and move on." See these people don't understand the passion, commitment, dedication and time put into the game of hockey. It's been my life for such a long time I cant see life without a stick in my hands and skates on my feet. People who can't respect the dedication level an athlete puts into there sport is mind boggling to me. When everyone else focus on work and hanging out with friends we have to take that extra time in the day to work out or practice. At times it gets unbearable and I hate it. It's the only thing I know where one night after a tough loss you think the world is over and the next night your so high on life because of a huge victory.

I know that I took the road less traveled to get to where I am today, and you know what, I would change it for the world. There are days when I wake up and wonder what it would have been like, how different my life would have been if I didn't go to open skating when I was four years old? where would I be today? Would I have chosen a different sport or would I have chosen a different career path? I don't know, but I'm also curious to what that would be. It's great to be here at Cortland with other freshman hockey players who also took anywhere from 2-4 years off from high school to do what I did. You cant find people like that on any ordinary day, but to be here and be with all these great players is awesome.

I hope my time off will help me here at school, and at the same time push me to strive harder to do my best everyday.

West Campus Housing/ Freshman Year

Well, I moved into West Campus about a week ago. I was expecting to be living on campus due to the Cortland website that states " West Campus Apartments are on campus facilities." Now I consider on campus to actually be on SUNY Cortland property not 2-3 miles away. As a freshman being put all the way over there that wasn't exactly what I was looking forward to.

Luckily, once I moved in I realized a lot of other guys from the hockey team were in the same apartment complex. I was lucky enough to have a buddy of mine as one of my three roommates. My one concern about the situation is I feel like Cortland should be more honest about its so called "on campus" housing. It's nice to all have our own rooms and the freedom of being 21 and able to drink, but still damn that's along way. I was hoping to have a memorable start to my freshman year in college by being able to interact with other people on the campus, instead we have a small number of people at West Campus that already have there groups and such.

I have been told by a lot of the upper class men on the hockey team that they enjoy living off campus and it gives you more freedom., I for one know I will be living on campus until at least after my sophomore year, I mean come on, don't we all wanna experience the true life of college?

Ether way I will be keeping a positive attitude towards my new living arrangement until I truly give it a chance.

Hoping to head up to the Adirondacks soon before it gets to cold to be outside!

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