Team Impact is a national nonprofit that pairs college sports teams with children with serious disabilities and illness, creating a lifelong relationship that benefits everyone involved. I first got involved with this organization in the summer of 2023 and it was the best decision of my life.
In order to fundraise for the Team Impact All in 5k, I had to lean heavily on my personal social network to spread the word about the event. After only about 2 months of fundraising, Wesleyan was able to raise just under $2,000, which was one of the largest contributions in the entire country by any campus.
The decision to play football at Wesleyan University was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have played sports since I was 5 years old and playing in college has always been a dream of mine.
In April of 2023, I created an Instagram page—@lucidosportspsych—devoted to mental health advocacy and motivational content. My page has strengthened and evolved since I started posting personable videos, touching on critical subjects involving anxiety and depression.
This past summer I worked my first internship with Team Impact. My official title was “Student-Athlete Development Intern” and my primary job was to assist my boss in preparing for the annual Team Impact summit. The biggest project that I had was creating virtual campus folders for all 138 Fellowship campuses matched with Team Impact.
In March of 2024, I underwent spine surgery to repair a herniated disc in my back. This was my first major surgery and I was unsure if I would ever be able to play football again. Not being able to participate in sports or work out was one of the most challenging things I have ever had to go through.
