University of North Carolina Athletics
I'm A Tar Heel: Emma Bozek
October 13, 2016 | Field Hockey
Dear Tar Heel Family,
I wish I could tell you that I never had a bad day at Carolina. I wish I could say I never got a disappointing grade on an exam or that I never played a bad game or missed an easy goal in overtime or missed home or struggled with adjusting to an environment that was foreign to me. All of those things (and more) happened to me during my four years at Carolina.
It all started when my young, naive, 18-year-old self reported to Carolina for preseason. With an abundance of excitement and endless ambition, I remember how easy it all seemed at first. I, along with my classmates survived the run test. Crushed it, even. The seniors on the team were unbelievably welcoming and I was quickly forming what would become life-long friendships. Top that off with playing nearly 55 minutes a game as a freshman and you can say I was living the dream.
It wasn't long however, before the good times were outmatched by a few bad games. After coming back from a trip with the U21 National Team, I started to see fewer minutes on the field and my confidence came to resemble my playing time. With my strongest support system over 500 miles away, I struggled to find my identity as a Carolina athlete.
As sophomore year rolled around, it too came with its batch of “bad days.” One in particular that I won't soon forget was the day of the NCAA semifinal game in Norfolk, Va., where I missed my shot in the shootout that would end our season and crush our hopes of becoming 2013 national champions. I can still vividly remember the feeling of disappointment and embarrassment after that game. With two years as a North Carolina athlete under my belt, I couldn't help but feel like I had underachieved.
Fast forward to junior year and things seemed to be back on track. The team was playing unbelievably well and although we still fell short in our final game, I truly believed that my senior season was going to be one for the record books. Unfortunately, my genes just didn't agree with me. In June 2015, I was rushed to the hospital where I would wind up having surgery to remove the lower lobe of my left lung (all thanks to a congenital abnormality paired with a super-infection … yuck). The rehabilitation period that followed was long, painful and, many times, frustrating.
As I sit here and wrap up a letter that seems more like a compilation of lowlights than a celebration of success, I'd like to share some final thoughts. While yes, it is true that all of these things happened during my time at Carolina, it would be misleading to say that they haven't happened for a reason. Each experience, while challenging in the moment, has taught me that nothing worth having in life comes easy, whether it be spending late nights in the UL to land the job of your dreams, dedicating hours in Stallings to rehab from surgery, or practicing endlessly on Henry to be an accomplished field hockey player. It is through these struggles and perhaps disappointments that your true character is molded.
What's more, being a Tar Heel has shown me that you must work every day to prove that you are worthy of success. Just because you were the best athlete in your high school doesn't mean you are going to come to college and have everything handed to you. You must work tirelessly in pursuit of your goals. It's also reminded me that just because you work hard doesn't mean you will always be rewarded with success. You will have slip-ups. You will experience failure. And you might miss a shootout in overtime every now and then. These setbacks won't discredit all the hours of hard work you put in beforehand. Nor do they mean that you lack the talent or capability to achieve. Rather, your identity comes from how you handle adversity and whether you have the ability to pick yourself up by your bootstraps when things don't go your way. Consider any failures not as permanent setbacks, but as opportunities to better yourself to become a more self-confident and self-reliant individual both on and off the field.
Looking back on these last four years at Carolina has made me realize just how lucky I've been. My coaches, teammates, friends, and professors have impacted my life in ways that I never imagined. I am a better person because of them and will cherish this experience for the rest of my life. Furthermore, Carolina has taught me that nothing worth having in life comes easy. It is your determination and persistence that will make your accomplishments as a Tar Heel among the greatest of your life. And while I can't say I never had a bad day at Carolina, I can tell you that I have loved my Carolina days and I wouldn't trade them for the world.
Many thanks and most importantly, GO HEELS!
Emma Bozek #14
