#24 - From Small Town to International Volleyball Star: Rupia Inck's Journey

In this inspiring interview, Rupia Inck shares her journey from a small town in Brazil to playing professional volleyball across the world, highlighting the importance of mindset, self-talk, and resilience. Discover how her experiences shaped her passion for sports psychology and her plans to help athletes unlock their full potential.

Key topics

• Transition from college to professional sports
• Impact of psychology and mindset on athletic performance
• Self-talk and visualization techniques for athletes

Enjoy the episode!

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:02

Hello and welcome to the International Student Athlete Podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:06

The podcast where we aim to inspire and help international student athletes navigate their journeys.

SPEAKER_03 0:12

Whether you're chasing your dream on a high school or college team, planning your next move, or supporting somebody on their journey, you're in the right place.

SPEAKER_01 0:22

Every week we'll bring you real stories, expert tips from professionals in the field, and a little bit of fun to help you navigate life as student athletes abroad.

SPEAKER_03 0:31

We are your hosts, Nikki and Barb. And we are here to guide you through the world of sports, studies, and everything in between.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Let's dive in.

SPEAKER_03 0:48

Welcome back to our podcast. This is Nikki, and today I am here with Rupia Inc. from Brazil. Rupia is a former international student athlete, also a professional volleyball player in many countries, and has her degree in psychology. So we'll have a great conversation about sport and how psychology is involved in it, as well as a lot of um, I would say a lot of conversation will be uh focused on the transition from um college sports to professional sports and what it actually takes to be a professional athlete. Rufia, thank you uh for taking the time to talk to me today and welcome to our podcast.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Thank you, Nick. It's a pleasure to be here.

SPEAKER_03 1:38

Would you start us off with your introduction and maybe to tell us um your starts in volleyball and what drew you to go to the US?

SPEAKER_00 1:49

Okay, so uh I'm from Brazil. I'm from a really small city uh in Minas Gerais. It's like in the country, and um yeah, I played all sports before playing volleyball, so I play soccer, I play handball, um, I did capoeira, which is like uh martial arts here in Brazil, like a dance combined with um um like martial art thing, you know. And then uh volleyball was the last sport that I practiced. I I I was playing basketball in the club here. Um, and then the coach, the volleyball coach, saw me, and like one day she came to the basketball practice and just like kind of grabbed me, you know. Like, okay, so do you want to this is where you're going? Yes, do you want to have a career like as an athlete? Go to the Brazilian national team, you have to go to volleyball. Like, you're very tall, like you can run, you can jump high. Like, please come practice with us. And I was like 13 years old, so I started training with the volleyball too, and then like I just got hooked, you know, like I really liked it. Um, they received me very well. Like, I I got a few friends there, like in the right in the beginning. So that's when I started playing volleyball. I was like 13 to 14 years old, and then um I I was competing here for the city, like very young age, like it was my first experience as like competing in any sports, you know, like uh traveling to compete to another team, and then um one year later um we couldn't stay with the team anymore because we didn't have like the financial, like the coach couldn't stay training us anymore. Um they had uh like a few issues, they couldn't keep the team, so they told me to try to do some tryouts in another city, like two bigger clubs, and that's when I started. Like I um when I was 14, so one year later I try out outside my city in the capital of Minas Gerais, which is Belo Horizonte. So I was approved in this tryout, like was really happy. So I moved from my city from Uberaba, where I'm from. Um, you know, I was like, okay, that sounds really good. You know, for me, the idea of living by myself, you know, like uh dreaming about playing professionally, like I saw that as an opportunity, so yeah, that's how everything started. So I moved from my city when I was 14, and then the next year I was in the national team, so I was playing with the Brazilian national team, the uh the youth Brazilian national team, and then yeah, and um five years later I was in the US. I got a scholarship and um studying and playing in college.

SPEAKER_03 5:13

Yeah, you moved away from home very early, 14 is an early age. Um, and I can and then playing for the Brazilian national team, that's a huge thing. So I can see how already, whenever you finished high school, you were looking for more challenges. So I guess the US was the next one on the list. Yes. So, how did you get recruited and how that whole process looked for you? Did national like being in the national team helped you get exposure to the schools in the US?

SPEAKER_00 5:49

Um, not really, but um the fact that I played the World Championship the very first year that I was in with the Brazilian national team, and I was seeing um people, uh a few athletes from our team would speak English, and I didn't speak English at all. So because we travel over overseas to play, I saw how how important it would be to speak English, you know. I was like, okay, I need to learn, like, because I want to play overseas. Like I was already dreaming about going to Europe, you know, signing contracts like since early ages. So um yes, I started thinking, how can I learn English? You know, because I was taking class in school in Brazil, but it wasn't enough, you know. Like I was um I didn't feel that I could improve to have conversations, so that's how everything started. I was like, okay, maybe I should try to go study because I knew uh in the US you can have scholarship to play. So um I had a few friends who was who was planning to finish high school and go to the US, so I asked them to help me. Like, hey, can you guys help me with like email from coaches? Like, I really want to go. Even though I didn't know in English, I saw that like that could be a big chance for me to learn English and then go play overseas, you know, like in have the language, I knew it would be so much easier to sign up on it.

SPEAKER_03 7:29

No, and I totally agree with you. I also didn't speak any English coming to the US, so it's a special journey and special um just way of you know adjusting and just um but definitely it's more helpful than just you know studying English as a class in school. Like it forces you to you don't really have an option in the first few months to survive, you really have to learn it.

SPEAKER_02 7:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 7:58

Um, so your first year, as we talked about, you went to Oklahoma Baptist in Oklahoma, and then you transferred to Frasno Pacific in California. Um so tell us about your experience. Um, are those two schools in the same division?

SPEAKER_00 8:17

Yes, I was playing the second division because I played professionally here in Brazil, so um because of the one play, yeah, D1. So uh my friends who give me the email from the coach in Oklahoma, they told me this. Okay, so we cannot play D1, but we still can go, you know, like we can try. Um, so yes, OBU, it was the first contact I had um with the coach there. I sent my curriculum, you know, like I told that I was in the national team and I really dreamed about like going there, you know, learning the language, um, graduating from college because I was having a really hard time here in Brazil to um balance college with a professional career because I was playing professionally already, I was like 17, it was my first year, like full-time, you know, full-time job job as an athlete. So I was having a really hard time to conciliate both, and then she accepted me, like she really liked my video. So I go to Oklahoma, but um, I didn't adapt there. It was like very cool.

SPEAKER_03 9:41

What was the biggest challenge?

SPEAKER_00 9:43

Oh, the weather. I think the weather for sure. Like uh, you like I really felt the culture shock there. Um, like crazy. Uh um, like uh we had like a snowstorm, you know, like the first day I was really happy to it. It was my first time seeing snow. I was like, this is amazing, like this is a dream come true, but then it lasts like more than a month, and I saw how difficult it would be to be there for four years, you know, and uh yeah, it was really challenging. Sorry, that's very to yes, to not have school for one one week, like one week we didn't have school because of the snowstorm, and you're just inside locked in your room, you know. So it's like okay, this is crazy, you know, and uh besides that uh the tornadoes, like oh yeah, Oklahoma is very much a lot of tornado warning, and you have to go to the basement. So, yeah, that was really like the um for sure, it was the reason I wanted to transfer. So uh I had friends in FPU at FPU playing Fresno Pacific University, so I started talking to them. I was like, okay, like if I have to stay here, like I don't know if I can, you know, for four years like this. This is like uh I wasn't expecting that. So long story short, I transferred to FPU. I had two redshirts one year because like um, like you know, they didn't accept me to transfer in, but I I knew I couldn't stay there, like I couldn't survive that.

SPEAKER_03 11:36

Like uh it was so when you say they didn't accept when you said you did they didn't accept your transfer, was that of the school in Oklahoma and the coach didn't like release your yes, I forgot the wording, but yes, they didn't release me.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

Yes, they didn't release me. Okay, so would you tell us what happened? Yes, yes, I tell. Okay, so I go to Oklahoma uh first year in the US. I had zero English doing ESL, which is a program, it's English as a second language. So you go, you take uh tests, they see your level of English, and you you take classes every day to learn English. So I was learning from the beginning, like when you teach kids to speak, that's how I was learning English. So I start like numbers, alphabet, colors, you know. So I got a full scholarship to learn English, to play with the team, and um I was um the freshman of the year, I was really like I was outside hitter, I was the best player of the team, you know. And um, and I when I I finished the season, I tell the coach, coach, I'm so sorry. Like, like with that really bad English, I was shaking, like feeling really bad, but I knew I had to take that decision because I wouldn't last there for sure. It was really affecting me. So on um the second semester there, I I had to have the courage. I went to her office and talked to her coach. I can't stay here, like I'm not, I didn't adapt, you know. I love this, I love you. Thank you for the opportunity, but I can't stay. And like she was said for sure, and she said, Okay, like I understand, there's something I can do, like we really want to keep you. I was like, No, I'm already, because I was already seen to transfer, and uh she said, Okay, it's okay, uh, I understand, but I I'm not signing your release, you know, like I cannot do that because I give you scholarship, and and yeah, it was hard, but I had to take that decision, you know. It was either that or um giving up in two semesters from that, like for sure. I I wouldn't last there, like I was already feeling this is not my place, you know. So, yeah, that's what happened. So I transferred, uh, so I couldn't train with the team anymore. So this was February, I think, March maybe the spring semester, and yeah, so I finished the semester there and transferred the fall semester to Fresn to FPU. So I had to red shirt that year at FPU.

SPEAKER_03 14:49

So, how was your experience and it's FPU?

SPEAKER_00 14:56

You it was great, like it was amazing. Um, so like this first year, of course, was really hard for me. I had to deal with a lot, you know, like I really get to know myself, it was really, really, really challenging. Like it was a lot in my mind because um like I was here in Brazil with my family, playing the national team, like playing professionally, you know, in the biggest club in Brazil, like playing Superliga already with like 18 years old, and um I left everything behind to go study, you know, like to chase a dream, like an adventure, you know. Like I knew that uh getting a degree would be really important for me in the future, so I knew I had to this was a decision, you know. I I had two ways. I could either stay in Brazil and just live volleyball for the next 10 years, or leave that everything behind, like as a pro, like a dream too, because I always dream of being professional, and go chase a degree and a new challenge to learn to learn a new language, to live overseas, and I chose the hardest, I think. So when I transferred to FU, it was a lot in my mind. Like I was thinking, I was thinking maybe that to leave Brazil was not the best decision, you know. I started doubting myself that I took the right decision one year ago, and uh so I had to deal with like fear, uh blame. Um, you know, like I had to be really patient because I was training with the team at Fresno Pacific University, but I couldn't compete, I couldn't travel with the team, and um but I grew I grew a lot, you know.

SPEAKER_03 17:02

Do you think that year was what led you to study psychology? Like, is that when you actually had the interest in learning about mind more and how it works?

SPEAKER_00 17:15

I think so, because when I went to the US, I was in my mind that I was going to study sports science, and uh you was in Brazil I was studying sports science, I was doing in uh sport science in Brazil, and then um for sure because like I really dove in myself, you know, like I I took a really a big dive in myself, like I I started journaling a lot, so I was getting to know myself, like I was observing my mind all the time, you know. My I started to understand how my mind worked, and how my mind could really make me feel like a failure, and my mind could make me feel like a hero, you know. And I I I experienced both sides, like the really dark side of myself and the really bright side of myself. So for sure, the first semester when I started taking classes. Um I was taking regular class for sports science, and uh the first week I had sports uh sports psychology with a great professor, um Jason Jason something I forgot his name, but it's uh Professor Jason, and he was the coach of the FPU and uh sports psychology. Like the first class, I was like, this is what I want to do, like this is what I want to work for, this is for me, you know. I was born to study this, and the first week of school, I changed my major.

SPEAKER_03 19:05

That's great. I mean, sometimes athletes, especially, and you're so busy in college that you don't even think about what you really want to study. And then the second piece is most athletes don't even have that space and time and opportunity to dive into their mind and understand their thoughts and like change the way they think and just really understand themselves. And like for a lot of people around me, and even for myself, all of that happened once I was done playing, just because you don't have time, and at that moment it doesn't really even seem important because you're like, okay, I need to take care of my grades, I need to perform on a high level, I need to sleep, I need to be social because I also need to enjoy the experience. So, like, we just overlook it so much. But, you know, when something like that happens, like I'm so glad that you have um used it in advantage of actually growing, and just you know, afterwards you found something that you really like to study, which you know that's like the whole point. We can all get degrees and like we'll use the scholarship, and four years will pass by, but like we'll be we'll be will we be able to use that in our future. Obviously, we'll gain a lot of experience, knowledge, we'll grow anyway, but the degree part is also mostly overlooked, and not because we don't care, sometimes we just don't have enough resources, or like we don't even have um capability to understand what are our wants and then what is available. And not speaking English, I feel like that also doesn't help because you also just want to do the easiest thing, and then if you get too um caught up with ESL classes, you might be missing some credits, and it's a whole you know spiral once you get in it, and that's why it's very important to from the start either know what you want to study or have somebody to help you understand how it works. Yes, yes, for sure. Um so did you have any additional, you would say like um you said that you had a cultural shock in Oklahoma, but once you moved to California, did you notice any additional like uh challenges when it comes to maybe new state, the culture of California, uh the system of the volleyball team? Was it a bit different? And from my understanding, you also had friends there, so I assume that made it a bit easier to adjust. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 21:49

Um, I think there was just the pressure to coming from a lot of sides, you know, like from performing good with the Performing good in that because when I transfer, I took the test and I still had didn't have the enough points to go take my course, my psychology course. So like at the time sports, uh sports science, but so I still I kept doing the ESL classes there. So it was the pressure from like um hustling to learn English and just pass the test to start taking like the because I went to the US to graduate, so I was rushing to start my degree because you have five years to complete your degree, and if I stay too much too long in the ESL, I knew I wouldn't have time, enough time to graduate from a degree. So I think just the pressure coming from everywhere, you know, like the pressure, yeah. Yes, especially from myself, you know, taking big, like really big steps in the last two years, you know, like deciding to move overseas, deciding to take a degree, decide to transfer universities, you know. So uh, and it was easier because the weather it was more tropical, like Brazil. So, this I think it helped me a lot, you know. Uh, in Oklahoma, I had a lot of friends too, Brazilians. Um, like I still have friends that I still speak, like Maira is one of them. She was here with you like twice already, and we met there. Yes, we love Mayra. Yes, we still talk from this day. Like, we had weekly meetings to talk about psychology and sports psychology. I had great friends there, but the weather it really got me, and in California it was more like home, you know, warm people were warmer, so um it helped a lot. So I think the culture I was more um when I moved to California, I was more used to it with the language, food, more familiar with everything, and uh the weather helped a lot, and it was just dealing with the pressure.

SPEAKER_03 24:27

Um I since as you mentioned, you in that short amount of period, short period amount of time, short period of time, you uh went from like living in Brazil to living in the US, and then you transferred schools, and I mean not speaking English, and uh then redshirting for a year, not playing with a team. I mean, that's a lot. Um, and now with the experience that you have at this moment with your degree and everything you've been through, especially playing professional, how important do you think is self-talk? And what are other, like you would say, daily habits and techniques that you think helped you uh go through those challenges and like just get yourself uh to you know finish your goals?

SPEAKER_00 25:23

Yeah, self-talk really helped me, but I I had to try to change the way I was talking to myself, and I learned the hard way, you know, because I noticed I would always put myself down and to feel ashamed, to feel dumb, uh you know, like not smart with my decisions. And from the moment I start changing my mind, uh to to be more self-loving with myself, you know, I realized if I didn't do that, no one would respect me or see me like that, that I was uh honoring my decision. So uh the self-talk, I had to learn the hard way to uh to do the transition from poor self-talking to like rich and positive, empowering self-talk. So that helped me a lot to I start looking at myself in the mirror at that time and like telling myself you can do it, like I love you. You know, this was really a life-changing for me, and I start from there, and then uh what helped me a lot was journaling. It was in the US was when I started journaling a lot, like I still have I don't know, maybe 15 uh notebooks that I brought from the five the five years that I was in the US, just writing, you know, like to put outside everything I was feeling because I was at times I was so confused, so I had to start writing, and um, so so I wrote a lot, journaling helped me a lot. Um, meditation helped me a lot in the US. That's when I started meditating. You know, at that time I was looking for everything that could help me. Like I was like, I chose to be here, this was the best decision that I took, and now I need to find the best way to finish what I started, you know. Like I I refuse to go back and just because it was hard, it was hard time. So um that's that's where I grow, you know, like I grow from there to uh trying to find new ways and better ways to deal with the situation. And uh yeah, I would say that self-talk is it's it's a great tool to have.

SPEAKER_03 28:05

I mean, definitely um just journeying the US is a challenge itself, and especially when we make it harder on ourselves, you know, like making trying to make you better by transferring, like the initial step is actually harder than staying in the place where you were. So um thinking and talking about what you just um told us about the whole year of reflecting on yourself and your mindset, um, did you feel the change in your mental performance on the court once you were able to play again? Considering that you were like did the work from the prior year, and you know, how did that impact your the rest of your career and maybe even professional uh career after college?

SPEAKER_00 28:56

Yes, I I was a more confident player for sure. Um I knew my place, like I knew that I was worth it, you know, because before, even though I was like sometimes in the games, I was like the best scorer or the freshman of the year, but I still didn't believe that I deserved that, you know, like I was always doubting myself, and um in like three years in my junior year, I felt that I was a more confident mentally player, you know, like a um mentally tough. I was tougher. Like I I didn't I didn't let my emotions take place in the game. So um when we're losing, for example, or in a really hard game, I I would become a leader, you know. That's that's how I feel that I I grew in the US. Like it was a great experience because it made me feel a better person and a better player, and I could separate. I think it was what was the most important for me there, and with this experience, that I could separate my the identity because until there I was just Rupiah, the volleyball player. That's all that there was, you know. Like I would just look at myself as a volleyball player. I didn't know what I liked, uh, what music that I liked, you know. I I didn't know what major I wanted to study, like what books that I liked, and there that experience made me look at myself again and see that I was uh the hoopia, like the the daughter, you know, like that I could be a better daughter, I could be a better student, you know, that was a friend, a better teammate to help my teammates to grow inside the court, outside the court, a better leader, not just inside the court as a scholar, but a leader in how I present myself and how I talk, you know, and how I take care of myself. So um, yes.

SPEAKER_03 31:24

For most of the athletes, I would say that's a universal experience of like being having a hard time separating yourself from you know, I'm Nicolato the volleyball player, and that's all I've been for like who knows how many years. And then once you're not, that's when the issue comes. So I think for your case, like it was even though it was such an unfortunate situation to miss out the year of playing, like you were able to utilize it and early on get that separation. So it helps you later on, even on the court, uh, with your experience. So that that's from my perspective, that's huge because earlier you are able to separate those two and have life outside of volleyball, doesn't matter how many hours a day you spend on the court. I think it just helps you even perform better because you're taking the pressure off volleyball as well, having something else on the side and focusing your energy and um just mental like you're taking mental space for something else as well. So the pressure you know can also lower. So super glad to hear that you were able to realize that early on. Um I would now like to go into your professional career and um tell us a little bit about that. And obviously, you told us that it was your dream since you were little. And I mean, dream coming true, that's a big thing.

SPEAKER_02 32:54

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 32:55

Um, how did your experience from college um affect your professional career?

SPEAKER_00 33:02

Um, yeah, so when I graduate, I I knew I still wanted to play because like going overseas to play was like the biggest dream for me, you know, like to play in Europe, like I would look at that like as a biggest dream of my life. So the first um the first contract that I get after graduating was in the Philippines, and uh like I didn't think twice. I was like, okay, perfect, like Philippines, you know, tropical islands, you know, let's try, you know. No snow, yes, a lot of beaches, you know. Like I wanted to enjoy now. So I went to the Philippines, I was there for two years, um, and after that I went to Turkey, France, um, I play in Peru. Um, yes, and um yeah, like um after college, when I graduate from college, I I had in my mind that I if I overcame that and graduate, like in my graduation day, I was like, okay, if I did this, I can do anything, you know, like I'm like I'm limitless, you know. I can play anywhere I want as long as I persist, you know, like I I honor my decision and give the best I can. So yeah, um this dream coming true to play in Europe, it was amazing, you know. Like I took my family there, it was just you know, like I don't know, it was I was always um yeah, it was the the the the little hoopia, you know, like the child realizing that I could dream big, you know, like today when I coach, now I'm doing transition, you know, in career, when I talk to my athletes, the little athletes, I always tell them, like, dream big, you know, like anything you dream, like just give life to this, start thinking about it, and um just believe that this could happen. Because when I was playing professionally in Europe, you know, after graduating, that's how I felt most of the time, you know, like that was like I was happy like a kid, you know, like okay, this is great. And uh I because I I mature, I was more mature after passing like five years from college. I feel that I could enjoy more, you know. So I kept reading books, I kept studying, you know, like trying to do something else besides volleyball because I wasn't just focused on volleyball, I was focusing and having the best experience, you know. So I would I don't know, like be a tourist, you know, in the Philippines. So any free time I would go outside, I would explore, I would learn, try to learn the language, try food, new food. So that for me was um like the real price, you know, from being a professional athlete, just enjoying experience the places, getting to know new people, learning from them, like how um how what's your life like here? You know, like what do you like to watch, what you like to distance? So uh when I look back now from this experience, that since college, when I I first went overseas, was this you know, like learning new things and meeting new people.

SPEAKER_03 37:02

And I mean that's part of it why um living your like your home country is great is because you get your mind open to so many opportunities, and it's like especially as you mentioned, you were coming from a small town, so I assume you know traveling overseas and like seeing like that's how I felt. My country is also very small, and just getting to experience different types of cultures, and as you were saying, just meeting different people, like in the US, I've met so many different nationalities and have seen so many different lifestyles that like back home I would never ever have a chance to do. So, even that piece of it, it's such a like important part of like our journey, and we don't even realize how much it expands our vision. As you were saying, like, you know, for you, it is maybe more realistic to say dream big because you've obviously lived your dream of playing professional, but then like telling that to somebody who is has never left their hometown, like, are they really gonna perceive it the same way as you? So it's it gives you a different level of confidence and like just the the way you see the world, I guess. Uh, one thing I wanted to ask you about is um if you have like in mind any mental habit or training for like younger athletes who maybe are going now into college or are in college and want to go playing to play professionally, like some tangible or intangible um habit that they could implement daily. You talked a lot about journaling, which I think journaling is great as well for many. Um, you know, as you were saying, like if you're confused putting your thoughts together and just understanding yourself and your mindset better for sure. But there are there any others that you can think of that you know people could utilize to get better with their mindset on and off the courts.

SPEAKER_00 39:09

Um, I think the self-talk, it's like prime. For me, the way you talk with yourself and the things you you tell yourself. Uh, I think this is the most important. Uh, like how you see yourself, it's more important of on how it's more important than how people see yourself, how they see you. So the the way you talk to yourself, and how do you think about yourself? Like this was really like it changed my life, it changed the way I see the world, I it changed the way I see my family, my relationships, uh, my work, you know. So, like I would say just maybe start looking in the mirror and trying to like of what you see. That's how I started. Because when I look at myself in the mirror, I I never liked it. I it's a small shape. It's a small steps, like I couldn't hit my eyes.

SPEAKER_03 40:15

I think it's also self-talk, like from self-talk to building confidence, right? It's building the long-term confidence, confidence. And you know, playing professionally. I think when you play professionally, it exposes you to different types of challenges, and you're on a bigger stage, you have bigger responsibilities. Like, you need to have that confidence in order to be you can be, as you were saying, oh yeah, I was a freshman of the year, but I never thought I deserved it. Like, yes, you can still be a professional player and you don't think you deserve it, you won't be performing on your best level, right? Even if you're great, like why not fulfill your potential if the mental piece is what you're missing? So I think also building that long-term confidence is where you know the self-talk maybe leads to and what's actually very, very important.

SPEAKER_00 41:07

For sure. And for the college experience, I think confidence is it's great when you have confidence to, you know, like maybe to ask hard questions in class to learn, you know, you have to have confidence to study because sometimes you have to find a way to study. Uh, like for me, us as an international student, I couldn't study like the Americans. I had to find the way to study, you know, like taking notes, repeating to myself, studying by myself. So I had to have confidence to find a way. And uh I think confidence comes from inside, you know, like uh the pressure, we have pressure from our coach. Uh we have to keep the scholarship, we have to keep, we have to travel every week, we have to play good, especially if you're international student athlete, right? Like, I don't know if not all of us, but most of us have full scholarship. So you have if you even if the school is not pressuring you to score, you feel that you have to own that. You pressure yourself, you pressure yourself. So if you don't have confidence, like your pressure just gonna make you feel small and scared with fear. So I think confidence it's it's a big step in the college journey, you know, in the US, especially for international students, like to learn the language, to uh to be in a different culture, to socialize with different backgrounds, you know. So and I think confidence, like a hack that for me worked very good, was uh positive self-talk, positive visualization. So to that's where I learned to meditate. So, how did I start? I put uh a timer on my phone, three minutes. I started with three minutes, I had to be eyes closed for three minutes, and I okay, now I will take three minutes to be eyes closed and not think about anything, just just pay attention to my breathing, and I start doing that, and in two semesters I was doing for 20 minutes, you know, and I was feeling because I was feeling better, I was more calm, I was feeling more peace of mind, I wanted to keep doing, and sometimes I would be two months, no meditation. But whenever I was feeling I needed to calm down, I would sit down and meditate for like two minutes at least. So then I start visualizing like how do I want to play and It starts from there. You sit down, you close your eyes, and you see yourself like an expectator. You watch yourself how you want to play, like how you wanna swing the ball, how you wanna surf, you celebrating, like all of this helped me a lot, you know, to go through this uh the college experience. And um, I think I finished like my when I graduate, like my my senior year was my best year, like just because I was feeling confident, you know, like I knew I could do it, even though sometimes I I couldn't play my best in the team. My team made me feel like I okay, this was good enough, you know. So maybe this like positive self-talk and visualization, like to how do you want to see yourself?

SPEAKER_03 44:57

Yeah, that's a just watch yourself. That's a great one. That's a great one for athletes, 100%. And I've heard even professional athletes talk about it, and like really visualizing to the smallest detail and like feeling it even before it happens, and actually truly believing that you're capable of doing what you're seeing in your mind. Definitely.

SPEAKER_02 45:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 45:18

Um, I wanted to ask you what's next for Rupia, and like what are your next five to ten years from now when it comes to maybe sports psychology and sports overall?

SPEAKER_00 45:31

Um so yes, I'm I'm studying, I'm back in Brazil, I'm back home with my family. Um, I'm doing a postgraduate uh course on sports psychology, so I'm um trying to specialize in sports psychology. I'm I'm looking forward to do master's degree too. Um I'm I'm already working with um a few volleyball teams, like a youth, uh youth 15, 16 years old. So um it's my first experience being as a sports psychologist. So like I go to their training, I watch them train, we meet every week, and um we we try these tools. So, like, I I in the beginning of the year we do a lot of um self-knowing yourself, like how do you see yourself as a player to build like I identity? Like, who are you person and who are you a player? So um, yes, I'm just uh how I see myself in five years, just working with you know, youth, adults, I don't know, just sport psychology, helping people um to bring their best version, you know, like their best self on the court, off the court with their family, with their friends. Um, I'm also coaching, so I coach beach volleyball and um uh indoor volleyball too for young people, adults, and yeah, I try to bring um sport psychology on my trainings too. So like encouraging my athletes to positive self-talk, you know, like I don't allow them to say I cannot do it, I'm like I don't know how to do it. Like, if you don't know, like keep trying. So I'm always trying to bring all this experience that I had, you know, especially in the US, because it was like it was the greatest experience for me, life-changing, yes. So, yeah, like in five, ten years, we'll be just studying, um, getting the best that I can, like reading books, and um, I go to a lot of conferences too, and uh yeah, and a lot of volleyball for sure. Coaching, playing, like whenever I can, I still play, you know, here and there.

SPEAKER_03 48:14

So, yeah. Well, it sounds like a great plan. Before we close this off, and before I ask you for your favorite quotes, um, is there anything else that you would like to share today that we haven't spoken about?

SPEAKER_00 48:32

Um, no, I maybe just encourage people, like if anyone here listening and they dream about going to the US to study, you know, and or if they are already, and if they're international or American and they're already in this college experience, just encourage them to um really find more about themselves, you know, explore yourself, like ask hard questions and um try to grow as much as you can, you know, like try to meet new people, ask them questions, like um don't be fearful, you know, to look dumb or sound dumb. Like just explore, you know, like uh try your best, like learn new things, read books, you know, like as much as you can, and um just try to avoid um you know, like tabloids, gossip, you know, like anything that you feel that it doesn't make you feel good or it's not gonna make you grow, like just try to avoid this, you know. Like I think this is the best advice that I can give to whoever is listening.

SPEAKER_03 49:46

That was a good one, yes, yeah, for sure. Would you share your favorite quote with us now?

SPEAKER_00 49:54

Yes, uh, my favorite quote, this um uh quote. Um this I I read this when I was in college, and it really like clicked me something that I I live by this since then. It's been like 10 years or more than 10 years. So um no matter what anyone says, just show up and do the work. If they praise you, show up and do the work. If they criticize you, show up and do the work. If no one notices you, show up and do the work. Just keep showing up, doing the work, and lead it away. So this is the quotes that I live by, you know, like in a good day, in a bad day, you know, if I feel that I'm being criticized, or if I'm criticizing myself, or if someone is praising me, I just remind myself to just keep doing the work, you know, like just keep showing up and doing your best.

SPEAKER_03 50:57

So, yes, that's my quote. That's a great one. I love it. Yeah, and if it will for sure bring you to big things and you know, getting your dreams fulfilled. Yes. Well, Rupiya, thank you so much for talking to me today. I really enjoyed our conversation, and I hope a lot of uh people listening to this will be able to take your advice on um the psychology side of the journey and also anything else and any other insights that you shared with us. Thank you again.

SPEAKER_00 51:33

Thank you, thank you, Nick, for the invite. I really loved sharing a little a little bit speaking English again. It's been a long time since I speak English, so it was great being here with you, and I hope this message can you know go as far as it can go.

SPEAKER_01 51:57

Thank you so much for tuning in to today's episode.

SPEAKER_03 52:01

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SPEAKER_01 52:07

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SPEAKER_03 52:16

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