My name is Gabe Gallivan, and I am a freshman here at the University of Dubuque. For the past two years, I’ve spent my time playing hockey 6 days a week with no other responsibilities, only an hour away from home. Mentally, life was great. I got to play the sport I loved while staying close to my family. Things got a lot more challenging this May. I decided to move to UD a few months early to get a head start on flight training. I’ve wanted to be a pilot ever since I was about three years old, and I finally had the opportunity to make that dream come to life. However, I wasn’t quite ready for what would come next. Even though I spent the past two years living away from my family, I was still only an hour away. I saw my parents and grandparents almost every weekend. I didn’t truly understand what it felt like to be isolated that far from everyone you know and love. It was difficult to adapt at first. Getting thrown into a completely different environment can be very challenging for your mental and physical health, especially when you need to perform academically and athletically. But after getting involved with the community and some of my teammates at the University of Dubuque, I realized I had a home away from home. I found a support system that allows me to grow physically and mentally, so I can be a top performer on the ice and in the classroom. I encourage others to develop a support system to help you focus in on the things that are important to you and to push you to prioritize your health
