Hi, my name is Nick Kennedy, I am a Junior here at the University of Dubuque was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois until I moved to Dubuque to finish the rest of my grade school years. I am a Sports Marketing and Management Major and a player on the Men’s Basketball team. I have been playing basketball for as long as I can remember. It’s one of those things that allows me to just escape from reality a little bit and not think about anything. The game has brought me so many great things in my life that I am so appreciative of, from lifelong friendships and family to life lessons and growth as a better person over the years. With that being said, I think the most important thing being a student-athlete has taught me in life is how to handle your emotions and what to do in times of adversity. The one thing I love the most about playing basketball is that no matter what kind of day you’re having whether you let a person score on you or you just can’t seem to find the bottom of the net there is one thing that remains constant, and that one common denominator is that the ball will always bounce back up into your hands when you dribble it. That right there has taught me that no matter what to just keep pushing through the tough days with a positive attitude and a growth mindset of getting 1% better every day, that is something that I take pride in when it comes to how I carry myself. Being a student-athlete, it is important that you obviously take care of your physical health, but I think the most important thing to take care of is your mental and emotional health. When I first got to college, I didn’t really understand the significance of the toll that everyday tasks can take on your mental and emotional health. Trying to balance so many things, including relationships, homework, practices, workouts, and other responsibilities, can become overwhelming. Within managing all of that in your life, it is easy to forget to take care of yourself and recognize when you need support. College can be a major adjustment and having access to mental and emotional help is important because it gives students someone to talk to and resources to help them manage stress and difficult emotions. I have learned that asking for help does not mean you are weak; instead, it can help you stay balanced and continue working toward your goals while taking care of your overall well-being. I am so very grateful and blessed that the beautiful sport of basketball has led me to be a part of the UD Community and be able to share my story to help reduce the stigma on speaking up about any challenges you might be facing in your head and encourage students to seek help!
