How Nebraska Changed My Life

The Fight for Mental Growth

Things didn’t get much better until I made the decision to transfer from Texas to Nebraska.

I wanted to take on new challenges and experience something different. During my official visit, I could already feel a sense of belonging and community that was incredibly captivating.

I always kept hearing about the love of Husker nation and how there’s no place like Nebraska. Admittedly, I thought it was all just part of the recruiting process at first.

As soon as I committed and that information was made public, the love and support from the Husker fans rained down on me. I’d never felt anything like it. Going from an unknown to receiving that kind of support—it was just crazy to me.

It didn’t take me long to fall in love with the program either. The entire team was a close-knit group, and that was apparent to me from the very first time I stepped foot on campus.

This new environment was like a blessing for my mental health as well.

Also, our access to world-class resources. 

Every single week, I began to meet with a sports psychologist to focus on Lexi the person, not just the volleyball player. I obviously love the sport but I wanted to be known for more than that. 

Those meetings have also helped me deal with my concerns with the thoughts of other people. I learned how to be more present in the moment and simply enjoy playing volleyball with my teammates. I basically fell in love with the sport all over again.

There was just a lot of pressure, and I was so nervous to mess it all up. I had to change my entire mindset to grow beyond those fears. That realization gave me a better understanding of why I felt the way I did. 

More importantly, it gave me the power to correct those feelings. 

I feel like I’m a completely different person from the second I made the decision to speak with a sports psychologist. 

I’m still growing so much in that aspect, and it’s shaping and changing everything else in my life.