My Lumberjack Life: Paola Cortes-Ortiz
5/7/2020 7:00:00 PM | Women's Golf
SFA Athletics is continuing a new series called My Lumberjack Life. With the 2019-20 season of competition cut short, this series is an opportunity for our athletes to share how they've been dealing with the recent global events, and how they are spending their time away from campus and the sport they play.
As Spring Break was coming to an end, the team was getting ready to leave our homes and head back to Nac to prepare for our upcoming tournament in Arizona the following week. At first, the only news we had gotten was a text message from coach saying that our tournament in Arizona was cancelled, but that we still might get to play the Southland Conference Championship. After a couple days of waiting to see what would happen next we received the news that all spring sports would be suspended and that classes would go online for the rest of the semester.
I would be lying if I said it wasn't an emotional moment for my teammates and I as we were trying to make sense of everything being taken away from us in the blink of an eye. I remember my heart dropping the second I realized I would not get the final semester of college I was hoping for. It has been extremely difficult to cope with the fact that "once in a lifetime" experiences such as playing my last collegiate tournament and having a college graduation are things I might not ever get back. And it hurts even more to know that after all the sacrifices my parents have made for me, they won't get to watch me make my last putt as a Ladyjack nor watch me walk across the stage in my cap and gown seeing all those years of sacrifice paying off.
Making the decision of whether or not to stay an extra year has been the most difficult decision I've had to make in my collegiate career. Of course I want to play golf one final year for SFA, enjoy the crazy life of a student-athlete, and make more memories with my best friends. However, I have become very passionate for moving into my career of hopefully become an a college golf coach at the Division 1 level. Even though right now is not an ideal time to be job searching, I am very excited to take these next steps because I truly believe in my ability to help a golf program reach its potential.
I have grown in so many ways I never thought possible since my time here at SFA. Although we are a relatively small community, we understand each other so well and that is something I have come to appreciate about being a Ladyjack. I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities Coach Trey Schroeder has given me. And I also want to express my gratitude towards my professors and everyone on staff in the athletics department for the unconditional support throughout these past four years.
To my teammates, keep up the hard work and keep up the culture we built this year. We started something special and need to keep it going!
And to my parents, sister, and close friends, thank you guys for allowing me to be a part of your life. I cannot wait to see what's in store for us and continue to make more memories with y'all.
- P
"I have the power to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me"
Philippians 4:13
As Spring Break was coming to an end, the team was getting ready to leave our homes and head back to Nac to prepare for our upcoming tournament in Arizona the following week. At first, the only news we had gotten was a text message from coach saying that our tournament in Arizona was cancelled, but that we still might get to play the Southland Conference Championship. After a couple days of waiting to see what would happen next we received the news that all spring sports would be suspended and that classes would go online for the rest of the semester.
I would be lying if I said it wasn't an emotional moment for my teammates and I as we were trying to make sense of everything being taken away from us in the blink of an eye. I remember my heart dropping the second I realized I would not get the final semester of college I was hoping for. It has been extremely difficult to cope with the fact that "once in a lifetime" experiences such as playing my last collegiate tournament and having a college graduation are things I might not ever get back. And it hurts even more to know that after all the sacrifices my parents have made for me, they won't get to watch me make my last putt as a Ladyjack nor watch me walk across the stage in my cap and gown seeing all those years of sacrifice paying off.
Making the decision of whether or not to stay an extra year has been the most difficult decision I've had to make in my collegiate career. Of course I want to play golf one final year for SFA, enjoy the crazy life of a student-athlete, and make more memories with my best friends. However, I have become very passionate for moving into my career of hopefully become an a college golf coach at the Division 1 level. Even though right now is not an ideal time to be job searching, I am very excited to take these next steps because I truly believe in my ability to help a golf program reach its potential.
I have grown in so many ways I never thought possible since my time here at SFA. Although we are a relatively small community, we understand each other so well and that is something I have come to appreciate about being a Ladyjack. I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities Coach Trey Schroeder has given me. And I also want to express my gratitude towards my professors and everyone on staff in the athletics department for the unconditional support throughout these past four years.
To my teammates, keep up the hard work and keep up the culture we built this year. We started something special and need to keep it going!
And to my parents, sister, and close friends, thank you guys for allowing me to be a part of your life. I cannot wait to see what's in store for us and continue to make more memories with y'all.
- P
"I have the power to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me"
Philippians 4:13
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