My Carolina Experience: Trinity Bursey
May 4, 2016 | Women's Basketball
My Carolina Experience: Trinity Bursey
By Zoya Johnson, GoHeels.com
When Trinity Bursey was 10 years old, her father's military assignment brought her family to England. At the time, she and her siblings were active and into sports but they were not involved in organized athletics. Shortly after arriving her father brought home a book on basketball mechanics and they began going to the park every day after school to practice drills.
Though Bursey did not join a team until she entered high school, she fell in love with the sport thanks to that book. One could venture to say it was a book that opened her up to a world of endless possibilities, but if you were to ask Bursey, she would say the book that did that was not based in mechanics but faith.
She won a championship with the Department of Defense Dependent School (DoDDS) high school league after only two years on the team. Then in her junior year the Burseys were relocated back to the United States.
“I had no idea what it would be like, but I know I had God on my side because after only one year of high school basketball in America I was offered a scholarship on the spot at UNC's basketball camp.
“When we ended up in North Carolina I was really interested in UNC, but of course I didn't think it was a reality. I had just arrived here and usually colleges scout kids as early as middle school. I'd been to State and Duke, and checked out other schools but I just wasn't interested. I'd loved Carolina from the time I first fell in love with basketball in England, and it was an added bonus that it was close to home because we had been away from family for so long.”
Needless to say Bursey had no struggles making her decision to commit. Athletically she came in with her mindset on bringing home a national championship with her teammates. They came close, making it to the Final Four once and winning an ACC championship on two occasions during her time at Carolina.
Regardless, Bursey's career at UNC was impressive enough to make her professional athletic dreams come true. Upon graduating, she was picked up by a team in the Czech Republic. She played one season before injury would force her to return home. Back in the U.S. once again, Bursey asked herself what was she most passionate about. The answer she says, “was I always wanted to help kids.
“I did substitute teaching at a few schools before getting to my current elementary school. They were looking for a teaching assistant to help out with a special education classroom. I was moved to get my qualification when the original teacher moved on and was then hired as the teacher for that classroom.
“These kids have severe emotional disorders, and figuring out how to calm and sooth them enough to get their work done fits very well with my psychology and counseling background. It can be challenging because they are labeled when they can't do certain things and they look down on themselves at times because of it. Being able to promote their self-confidence has been hard but fulfilling, and I truly feel this job has taught me to find peace in the midst of chaos.”
As Bursey settled into her new role of teacher she was filled with inspiration. She began writing out her thoughts and feeling compelled to share them with her friends. It got to a point where she was calling them at all hours of the night and day to share her words. They finally had to tell her it was time to stop calling so she could figure out why she was feeling so compelled.
“I was at a point where I really wanted to go after God's heart and get to know him more. When I took the time to figure out where all the inspiration was coming from, it dawned on me that He was calling me to write a book.” That is how Bursey's book, “Face to Face: Intimately Seen, Intimately Pursued” came to be.
“Face to Face”, is filled with poems and accompanying devotionals as well as journal questions aimed at inspiring the reader to connect with their faith and themselves on a deeper level. Faith was something Bursey entered Carolina with, but her time on campus opened her up to the many different kinds of people who share that same desire and drive. As she continues to find purpose in her life, Bursey's pursuit has led her and two close friends to start a monthly meet up for creatives called “Inspirations.”
Taking on the feel of a night club, the aim is to get all types of performers from poets and dancers to artists and singers in a place that celebrates their artistry and a love of God. Hosted once a month in Fayetteville on Rayford Road, they are hoping to get to a point where “Inspirations” can get enough participation to turn into something they can host every Saturday night.
“Figuring out how to find balance and not procrastinate were big lessons I learned at UNC. Even now that I'm done playing professionally I can keep myself in shape and eat well because of the habits I formed while at Carolina. As I balance being an author, teacher, and now business owner those lessons continue to serve me in my everyday life.
“There is an expectation of excellence in all the sports, in the classrooms, and in the community as Tar Heels, and that only continues to be a part of who you are as you leave campus. That is what we are hoping to cultivate with 'Inspiration.”
Anyone interested in “Inspirations” or “Face to Face,” both in book and audio forms can contanct Bursey directly at TrinityBursey.com. If you are curious about the book you can visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRoPUP7B7ng for a video that ties directly into its message.