Life as a Mountaineer - Katrina Pardee
February 24, 2019 09:00 AM | Women's Basketball
West Virginia University senior guard Katrina Pardee decided to write a letter to freshman guard Katrina Pardee from Cedar Park, Texas, to offer some advice on what four wonderful years in West Virginia will mean to her life:
Dear freshman Katrina,
It's the summer of 2015 and you've just arrived on campus at West Virginia. Little do you know what lies ahead of you. There will be plenty of highs. You'll win championships and break records. But there are going to be days when you might think you're not good enough, but I promise your hard work will pay off. You don't know this yet, but Morgantown will become home, and your teammates will become family.
Listen to your coaches, they know what's best for you. Learn how to play defense, like now, because you're not going to play until you do. You'll spend plenty of time on the treadmill in those early days, but it will only make you stronger. Live in the gym, and don't let anyone outwork you. Your time will come.
Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't achieve your goals; that you're not good enough, that you can't play at this level. Be the best you can be every and never get complacent. Take advantage of all your opportunities. They'll roll out the carpet and your name will be called in the starting lineup in your first college game. Your team will make a magical run to win the 2017 Big 12 Championship. The 3-pointer will become your specialty, and you'll use it to become the school's 35th 1000-point scorer. You'll be a team co-captain. Not just once, but twice. "Katrina Pardee for THREE" will be heard in almost every game during your career and kids in the stands will wear your jersey.
You're going to have some bad days, but it's all a part of the process. Adversity will strike hard but put God first and you'll be alright. Trust in the trials God places in your path. He will never give you a burden you cannot carry. For the first time in your career, you'll sit on the sidelines with an ankle injury as a senior. It will be hard, but with your teammates by your side, you'll overcome it.
Work as hard in the classroom as you do in the gym. Your accolades won't just come for what you do on the court. Did you know you'd have one of the highest GPAs on the team? Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll, Academic All-Big 12 First Team … your name will be on all of them.
Have fun, because this game will take you places you've never dreamed. Enjoy your teammates. You'll tour Europe, go snorkeling in the Bahamas and have too many family dinners to count. Also, don't start a prank war with Zack, your strength and conditioning coach. Your car may end up saran wrapped.
Make sure you tell mom and dad everyday how much you appreciate their endless love and support. They will drive hundreds of miles and take dozens of flights each year to show theirs, and you'll take comfort in seeing their faces in the crowd on the road all year long. You will make them proud.
Don't wish these next four years away, because it goes quicker than you think. In the blink of an eye you will be walking that carpet and taking that jersey off for the last time on your home floor. Work hard every day and don't take a single practice or game for granted, because you never know when it might be your last. Chase your dreams, trust in all your hard work and don't ever, ever give up on yourself. You got this.
Life as a Mountaineer is presented by WVU Medicine.
Produced by Sean Merinar
Dear freshman Katrina,
It's the summer of 2015 and you've just arrived on campus at West Virginia. Little do you know what lies ahead of you. There will be plenty of highs. You'll win championships and break records. But there are going to be days when you might think you're not good enough, but I promise your hard work will pay off. You don't know this yet, but Morgantown will become home, and your teammates will become family.
Listen to your coaches, they know what's best for you. Learn how to play defense, like now, because you're not going to play until you do. You'll spend plenty of time on the treadmill in those early days, but it will only make you stronger. Live in the gym, and don't let anyone outwork you. Your time will come.
Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't achieve your goals; that you're not good enough, that you can't play at this level. Be the best you can be every and never get complacent. Take advantage of all your opportunities. They'll roll out the carpet and your name will be called in the starting lineup in your first college game. Your team will make a magical run to win the 2017 Big 12 Championship. The 3-pointer will become your specialty, and you'll use it to become the school's 35th 1000-point scorer. You'll be a team co-captain. Not just once, but twice. "Katrina Pardee for THREE" will be heard in almost every game during your career and kids in the stands will wear your jersey.
You're going to have some bad days, but it's all a part of the process. Adversity will strike hard but put God first and you'll be alright. Trust in the trials God places in your path. He will never give you a burden you cannot carry. For the first time in your career, you'll sit on the sidelines with an ankle injury as a senior. It will be hard, but with your teammates by your side, you'll overcome it.
Work as hard in the classroom as you do in the gym. Your accolades won't just come for what you do on the court. Did you know you'd have one of the highest GPAs on the team? Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll, Academic All-Big 12 First Team … your name will be on all of them.
Have fun, because this game will take you places you've never dreamed. Enjoy your teammates. You'll tour Europe, go snorkeling in the Bahamas and have too many family dinners to count. Also, don't start a prank war with Zack, your strength and conditioning coach. Your car may end up saran wrapped.
Make sure you tell mom and dad everyday how much you appreciate their endless love and support. They will drive hundreds of miles and take dozens of flights each year to show theirs, and you'll take comfort in seeing their faces in the crowd on the road all year long. You will make them proud.
Don't wish these next four years away, because it goes quicker than you think. In the blink of an eye you will be walking that carpet and taking that jersey off for the last time on your home floor. Work hard every day and don't take a single practice or game for granted, because you never know when it might be your last. Chase your dreams, trust in all your hard work and don't ever, ever give up on yourself. You got this.
Life as a Mountaineer is presented by WVU Medicine.
Produced by Sean Merinar
Players Mentioned
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