By Hollis Mulry
Once I realized that my mindset shapes the world around me and how I experience it, I have made an effort to live each day staying disciplined in thinking positively and focusing on what is within my control. I believe our mindset is truly our biggest superpower when used intentionally, but can be just as powerful in holding us back when not guided with intention. Through all the opportunities to grow that playing a sport at the highest collegiate level provides, what is also just as important is the love and perspective you can share and encounter with those around you from living in the present moment.
I learned through trial and error that my outlook and plan of action will define each step I take forward. Through adversity, I learned the most important thing is to never stop believing in yourself, both as a person and a player, and lean on those around you. In my senior year of high school, I tore my ACL, MCL, and meniscus and entered college as a freshman, spending the year rehabbing and learning from the sidelines. While it initially felt isolating to be injured and new, it encouraged me to open up, lean on my teammates, and grow closer to them in a meaningful way.
By the end of my freshman year, my knee started to hurt again, and I figured out I needed to get a scope to remove scar tissue and repair a small meniscus tear. This was terrible news because I felt like I did not have more time to lose. I knew I had to stay positive and keep the bigger picture in mind. Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to redshirt my freshman year. That extra time became a gift, allowing me to grow into a better teammate, find a deeper understanding of myself, and become a stronger player. It taught me mental resilience, gave me space to explore who I am beyond my sport, and helped me recognize the ways I can listen to my body to help it evolve and function at its best.
Then, in my junior fall of college, I lost my dad suddenly, and my world felt like it had fallen apart. He had been the person I relied on for everything from sharing the highs and lows of my day to a simple phone call just to say hello. I quickly turned to my family & extended family, faith, best friends, and USC Lacrosse. I chose to pour my energy into my sport because that had always been a constant in my life and a special bond between my dad and me. It worked for a little bit, but it was not sustainable. I was giving so much of myself, hoping lacrosse would carry me through, without truly caring for myself in return. It made me realize that to be able to play lacrosse as my best self and teammate, I first needed to make sure I was supporting and staying true to me.
On top of this, I was learning to play midfield after previously being an attacker, and in the third game of the season, I broke my hand. I was out for six games, and it just felt like nothing was going right in my life. I was pouring so much of myself into something that didn’t feel like it was returning to me what I was giving. What I really needed was to allow myself to feel what I was feeling, accept the flow of living in the present, and find happiness in sustainable sources. To balance my ambition with self-care. This looked like taking the summer to slow down and find joy in activities that are peaceful to me, practicing gratitude for all things big and small, and embracing the special people closest to me like my mom and twin brother, cousins, relatives, teammates, best friends from home.
That year became a turning point. While it was the most challenging period of my life, it allowed me to figure out the most valuable information about myself and how I want to live every single day.
I now approach life and lacrosse with a perspective rooted in love and self-growth. I play lacrosse because I genuinely love the sport, it’s fun and challenging, but what motivates me to get up on the toughest mornings and keep working hard is choosing to stay disciplined, play for the people and teammates I love, and work at something that is making me a better person. It is rewarding in a way that I know nothing else in my life can compare to: the unique experience of playing a sport in college at this level, in a great location, at an incredible university, and alongside an amazing group of friends. I love striving to be the best version of myself, and lacrosse is an outlet that allows me to do exactly that. It lets me experience moments that shape who I am, build meaningful connections, and create memories I will carry with me forever.