The Fearless Warrior Podcast

144: What Texas Volts Catcher, Michaela Edenfield, Wants Every Athlete to Know About Confidence

• Amanda Schaefer

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0:00 | 32:06

In today's episode, we are sharing our mentorship call with Michaela Edenfield, Texas Volts catcher, Florida State alum, and also known as "Area 51". She opens up about failing forward in Junior Olympic trials, why she never had a dream school, and why doing it until you are it is the only version of confidence worth chasing.

Episode Highlights:

  • Why having dream goals instead of a dream school is the mindset shift that changes everything in recruiting
  • The impact of the open tryout for the Junior Olympic team 
  • Why her pregame makeup routine became one of the most powerful trust-the-preparation tools she has
  • What volleyball taught her about bouncing back from errors that she could not learn in softball alone
  • Don't fake it till you make it, but do it until you are it


Connect with Michaela:

IG: @mje51

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Kara

All right. Welcome, ladies, to tonight's, uh, Fearless Mentorship call. We are so, so excited to have Mikayla Edenfield join us tonight as our mentor. Um, just a little bit about Mikayla. She's from Sneads, Florida. Is that how you say it? I, I didn't even ask you before. Yeah, Sneads. Sneads

Michaela

Florida.

Kara

Where is that? I didn't ask you where that is. Where is Sneads, Florida?

Michaela

That is about an hour west from Tallahassee, Florida, right up in the capital, right in the panhandle.

Kara

Okay. All right, so you didn't, you didn't go that far f- um, to go to FSU then, huh?

Michaela

No,

Kara

no. Um, yeah, so, uh, Mikayla grew up there, played h- uh, her c- her high school ball there, also is a two-sport athlete. We, uh, vibed on this before we got on the call that she also played volleyball. You said middle blocker and right side?

Michaela

Yeah.

Kara

So, um, that's... those are two powerhouse positions. I can imagine you, uh- dominated there at the net. And her, her team was four-time state champs, so you know that they were super, super good. So that's awesome that she got to play volleyball. Um, then after high school, she went to Florida State, uh, caught at Florida State. The list of your accolades is kind of ridiculous, honestly. Like, just like every award that you could get out of the ACC, out of the, you know, all-tournament team and things like that, um, you just really racked it up while you were there. Then i- two years ago, right, you were drafted for, um, the Athletes Unlimited. You play for the Volts.

Michaela

Yes.

Kara

And, um, I saw also an interesting thing that you got your degree in business and your, your dream is to, like, be a marketing manager- Yeah for

Michaela

a sports brand. I didn't end up with business. I went over to communications because- Oh, okay

Kara

I

Michaela

really went after my passion of going into broadcast. So, um- Oh, okay behind the scenes, what I didn't say is I ended up covering eight Florida State games over broadcast, um, for ACC Network this year, so that was fun. But yeah.

Kara

That's really great. Yeah, I love it more and more that they're getting these, like, former great players that are getting there, calling the games. Like, who knows- We need it Florida State better than you, right? Like, nobody.

Michaela

No.

Kara

It's

Michaela

awesome. I know it. I, like... I just can't stand when they say a fastball or this is a rise ball- Yeah. when it's, like, clearly not the pitch, right? We're all shaking our head, and we're like, "Where's the mute button?" Like, I want to be- Yeah. I want everyone to enjoy and, like, be able to listen to the ball game.

Kara

Yeah, that's awesome. We just had, uh, Nicole Mendes come on- Oh, yeah was that last month, Amanda? Last month? Well, she was our mentorship call last month, so she came on and ta- was able to talk about her broadcasting experiences as well. I think that's just so awesome.

Michaela

Ah, she's

Kara

been back. Just more and more- Yeah, so that's you. We're excited to have you. Um, I'll turn it over to you. Is there anything that you wanna start off, make sure you start off with sharing? Anything you wanna add to that bio?

Michaela

Yeah. I, um, I think it's kinda funny, a lot of people get the story a bit confused, right? Small town girl right next to Tallahassee. A lot of people think Florida State was my dream school. But, um, I kinda wanna clear that out of the air. Um, Florida State wasn't my dream school. Matter of fact, like, I didn't really have much of a dream school. I just had dream goals, and I wanna preach this. I say it all the time to the girls I give lessons to. Um, if you have dream goals, like where, what level, who do you wanna be around, the team will naturally fall in place. Sometimes when we get stuck in this, like, dream school category, like, we feel the need that everything has to meet, you know, meet the level of that, and we end up having a little bit of hope, anxiety, a little bit of depression. That is a lot of things going on, uh, in the recruiting era, right? But, um, I ended up just wanting to play softball at a very, very high level. I wanted to play D1. Um, and I didn't know if I was gonna go play D1. I was a very, very late commit compared to everyone else in my class that committed in, like, eighth grade. So we are in a healthier, more fun time of recruiting. These girls, um, may not ever know that struggle, and I am so grateful. Um, but yeah, I, I definitely went through a lot through my childhood. Um, I never played for a super big brand team until I was already committed, um, to Florida State. So just a little bit more about me on the softball spectrum is that you don't have to be a part of the big, blitzy, glam teams that are going across the country every summer. And like, if you really put your head down to it and hold your core values tight, like, you can accomplish and be in any room that you wanna be in

Kara

That's so awesome. Yeah, just not getting, like, not feeling, like, too small for the moment or l- understanding that, like, you have it, have it, are prepared for it no matter what it is. Uh- That's awesome. Tell me then, what was that recruitment like for you? So, um, Lonnie Alameda- Ah all-time great coach, right? Like, was it- So fast was that the right fit or what, was it the school, or what was it about Florida State that really drew you in?

Michaela

For me, I, I was, um, I was really, really close going 12 hours away from Sneads, Florida, and not even blinking twice. And truthfully, that was because I had a really good relationship with Kaylee Rafter, which is now an assistant coach for Florida State. But during my time growing up, um, like I said, I didn't have much money, my family didn't have much money, like, you do what you will and what, with what you have. And for me growing up, going to the winter camps often, due to the fact that they had coaches in different areas, a lot of different coaches representing different universities as well coming into the camps, um, the winter camp was like my Christmas gift growing up. So- Mm-hmm I'd go, I'd go into those camps, you know, I'd put my head down, make sure I shook every single hand of all of the coaches that were there, really trying to build more of, like, a I see you and you see me type of relationship in a day of where we just have digital devices, and we don't really actually directly message other than DM'ing someone. Um, just making sure they leave, um, the day with making sure they, like, they knew who I was, and I got a good handshake in. Um, so just the importance of how you carry yourself in camps. Like, yes, we want to perform, and you wanna do good, but more so can you be more observant and more understanding and really try to bond with and learn with the girls around you and the coaches and the environment that camps do end up bringing, which is super, super cool. But my recruitment to Florida State was a little bit of ups and downs, right? Like, I went through the camps, went all through the years, and they kinda got to see me grow up during those moments. And I think my, I think, though, a moment that really clicked for Florida State when they really wanted to buy into me, um, was when I was chasing after my dream goal of wanting to play for the Junior Olympic team, another thing that I thought was- About the near impossible, right? Like little girl, backyard of Tallahassee. Like my, think my town population is maybe like tw-, I don't know, 1,300. Like my, my high school graduating class was under 100, and it was the biggest my town had ever seen. So putting all of that into perspective, like I was just wanting to put an effort. So I went through this open tryout for the Junior Olympic teams. Um, I put, I put a number across my chest. I went across the day, did my ground balls. I went and I caught, did pop time to hitting, you know. You go around and you're like, "Well, maybe, I don't know. Like, I'm just here. I'm this small town girl. Like this isn't, nothing's gonna happen out of this, but like at least I can say I gave it my, you know, I gave it a good shot," right? And what ended up me feeling like that, and I left it all, I did everything I could in the tryout. I got the call saying that I made it to team selection trials. And I remember freaking out in the middle of a Starbucks with my grandpa in tow, and we just couldn't believe that I had gotten through the open tryout into the team selection trials. I was one of two uncommitted girls in that building. Um, and all I saw was logos. UCLA- UF, Alabama. Cat Sandercock was there, so there was Florida State relevant in the air, but she- Yeah didn't really know who I was other than the fact that, like, she may had saw me at a camp one off time. But I think that story and the how I slowly got better day by day, um, in that environment with the logos, with me not being committed, with having to figure out a little bit of a identity crisis of who I am in softball and kinda went through the doubts of, like, do I even belong in the room that I'm in, you know? Um, and- Mm-hmm I think the coaches really saw me work through that. And I, what was a strike out my first two days, I ended up barreling up on the second day, and then on the third day of the team trials, I started to get, like, base hits. And, like, it was the day by day process and them seeing, um, how bought in I was, and regardless of whether if I was failing, I was failing forward. And- Mm-hmm I think that's all really and truly coaches would want to see out of someone. You can recruit the most athletic, most dominant, fierce athlete, but if we can't put it in perspective that, like, I have to be able to learn, I can't face the game with fear. If I'm always fearing the game, how am I supposed to, like, actually face my failure, right? And we always put- Mm-hmm ourselves at hold because we have a, a fear of being a beginner, being bad at something, right? But that's the whole point. We play a game of failure. How good can we be at just being consistent, um, and keeping ourhe- ourselves in a really good head space during that? So I think that was the final click, and it was a few months later, a good email, an unofficial visit, and sure enough, I really felt like when I took the visit, I asked the same questions as I did when I went to other visits across the country. Like, really making sure that, yes, I may like a coach, I may like a couple coaches, but at the same time, I need to be in an environment. Um, coaches are just humans at the end of the day. Um, they pick people with hopes that, that can help build that environment for their good culture, um, as a program But at the end of the day, like it really speaks volumes when they're recruiting good human beings that can withstand and have that good culture, and then that's exactly what I had at Florida State, and that's what I wanted. I wanted to be able to grow as a person and as a athlete. And when that clicked in my head, I was like, "Man, I guess I won't be that far away from home." So what ended up- being like my worst nightmare was my parents like, "Yes!" Right? But-

Kara

Yeah, I'm sure they were pumped. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That's great. Yeah, I think it's amazing because it's uncommon these days even to see someone go to a school for all their years of eligibility, and, you know, to do that really speaks volumes to how much you vetted that place and how much you really, like, did your due diligence. And I think, I think you're, you're spot on to, to tell these girls that there's more to a school than just, like, their softball or just their coach- Oh my goodness or just their name, just their logo.

Michaela

Like- And there's so much more than that and than just the money. Like, I understand- Mm-hmm we're in a different format with NIL. I lived the early- Mm-hmm onset stage of it. Um, but I do truly believe, like, I got offered, I, I got... Like, I say offered, but, like, I got talks about whether if I was gonna be transferring out of Florida State my last couple years, and I would face those rumors or those people who would ask those, I say, like, crazy remarks. But I guess to me- Mm-hmm it's crazy because I know how much I value, um, the opportunity and just truly the chance to fail and fail forward, um, in the environment that coach had set and with the girls that I got to be around on a daily basis. Like, it is just one thing to be going through, yes, having a good standard, yes, personally having good morals, but when you have that type of energy with your left and right, like, you just truly feel invincible. I went through some of the deepest, scariest, honestly, the hardest times of my life, um, going into college. I lost my grandpa. That was the biggest support system, my, like, my dad figure, right? Lost him- Mm-hmm before I got into college. I just recently lost my mom, and, like, my girls from college are the first people that I'm texting and trying to get ahold of to, like... You know, I know how much that, vice versa, I need them, but they need me, and, like, those relationships I have built over the years speak volumes. It's way, way more- Mm-hmm than just the money or just a good coach or playing in Power Five. Like, can you see yourself as a person thriving there? And that's on both sides, on the field and off

Kara

Yeah, that's such good advice. And we've heard that from multiple mentors that have come to speak about, about that you really, like, need to make sure that it's the right fit for you. Like, just because it's a Georgia or a Florida or, or Florida State, just because that's the... You gotta make sure that that's the place that you personally need to be, and that's, that's really good advice. Um, also sorry to hear about losing your mom. That's r- I'm sure been really tough. Um I, uh, I don't know if this is like an about-face, but one thing I really wanted to ask you about, is 'cause I remember my first experience watching you a couple years ago in col- in the College World Series. You're a catcher, so you've got a face mask on. Mm-hmm. Um, but I remember one of the, one of the games I was watching you guys play, um, the announcers loved to talk about your eye makeup.

Michaela

Oh, yeah.

Kara

And I- if, if... Girls, if you haven't seen a picture, I think the picture we posted had your awesome eye makeup on it. But it, it, it is just is so, it stands out so much about you, and I can tell that you're showing your personality. Can you talk a little bit about that, and like where did that come from? Why do you do it? Oh, yeah. How did you learn how to do it?

Michaela

Yeah. I, um, a little bit more of the background of me, like I wasn't always the most confident human being. A lot of people think I am now, um, which I think like we say fake it till you make it. I wanted to be, so I decided to do it. So if I wanna be confident, I choose it in daily basis. So I think it's kind of funny. I used to get bullied, um, pretty heavily until maybe the beginning of 11th grade. So I think throughout the years, going through the ups and downs of wanting to feel like I belong, wanting to feel the need to fit in within my peers when it came to high school, right? Like, can I dress a certain way? Can I make sure like the clothing, I'm m- I'm matching the trends, right? Like, a lot of those things I really did to blend to fit in, right? And I slowly was able to understand that like I was never meant to fit in. And it took me a really, really long time. I watched a bunch of YouTube growing up. That was like my little fun joy, right? Um, I got into watching RuPaul Drag Race, um, reruns and clips and edits. And I think truly like being able to watch and observe other people that carry themselves with so much confidence, like it makes you question, like how did they have it? Like, how does this person walk around shoulders high in every single room? Like, and you feel as if they have this force around them, right? Like, oh yeah, like I'm not gonna mess with that person. Like, clearly, like they know what they're doing, right? I'm, I'm gonna mind my business, right? And for a lot of things, like I w- I was asking a lot of questions, and I think success leaves clues, ladies. If that's the biggest hint I could ever give you, if you see someone being successful, I guarantee you they went through a journey, a story, a marathon that allowed them to be where they are today. So the success leaves clues, regardless of it's the time, the hours, the hard work, the daily showing up, looking at yourself in the mirror and saying that you're beautiful over and over and over again, right? Like- It's only uncomfortable because you're not used to it, right? So I think, again, the more we backtrack and we work on how we show up daily is, goes into a little bit of the me and the makeup and choosing it for myself, um, and having fun with it, um, for myself, and I think that's the fun part. Now the razzle dazzle is way more involved. I've got lots of colors. What was just me getting to do some winged eyeliner looks back in high school, like I was always in the makeup piece, always, always into it, was always, you know, real close to me. And then my freshman year of college, um, it was me asking the POs, "What color would you like on my eyes today? Like, if I, if I, if I wear the color that, you know, you choose, you're gonna throw good today, right?" Like, so that was, you know, that was red shirt Micaela, you know, doing her due diligence, trying to get- Right all the good juju out on the field. And year by year, it slowly became a, like, "No, like I kinda wanna do rainbows," or like, "I wanna do it..." And then it became from not only, like me and my teammates to me and the fans, and it became, like very community-based, in which really made me seen, feel, um, you know. I was seen, and I was felt as an ambassador for the sport. And for me, like I've always wanted something that I didn't have growing up. I don't remember watching, you know, a Black girl, you know, a Black woman behind the plate. I didn't know, you know, and sometimes we just don't know things are possible until we have seen it done. Mm-hmm. And I know representation means everything in that piece, and I strive to be a good representation for not only myself, but for the girls that look like me when it comes to this sport or in any sport in general.

Kara

That is so amazing. I, I... That representation absolutely matters. And, and you, I, I, I think it totally speaks to your confidence. And that's what... I mean, when I saw the- the makeup the first time, I was like, "Yeah, that girl. That girl's got it. She's got it going on." There's definitely been moments- Uh, I was so impressed

Michaela

by it like even- Yeah like I think about... Oh, my gosh. I did a Da Vinci look last year that I, you know, went full- A full eyeball? green Ninja Turtle across my face. And like there's been a couple where I've been like, "Wow," like- Yeah I forget I do my makeup, and I look in the mirror, I'm like, "Whoa!" Like, "What is happening?" Who's that? Like it's just, it's so much fun. It is just truly- Uh-huh so much fun, and it's become to be a thing that I enjoy to, in almost like a mental preparation for myself. Mm-hmm. It's the calm before the storm of the game. So it's like that one, you know, last hour I really get to myself before I'm putting on the uniform, before I'm, you know- Mm-hmm using all of the knowledge, the scouting reports. I did notice like over time, the more I really got into my razzle dazzle, the less I was worried about like, "Oh my gosh, did I kn- did I watch enough film about so-and-so?" Right. Like, when you think about it, like ladies, like I'm sure you guys go to your English classes right now, like your MLA whatever, you know, state assessment you're going through right now. You're like, "Oh, man." Like, we go through that night before feelings where like, "Oh gosh," like, "Did I study enough?" Like, "Did I do enough?" Right. Right? Like at the end of the day, either you did or you did it, and it, you, it's up to you to find yourself and trust- That

Kara

last hour is not gonna do much

Michaela

to trust the preparation. Yeah. Right? Yeah. Eventually, they give you your, you know, your pre-sharpened pencils, if you're like me, how that, how that happened in school for me back in the day, right? Mm-hmm. But like they give you the s- you know, your pencils, and you gotta put your head down, and like gotta do it. You gotta go with what you have. So I think that's becoming like a really good part of my routine, a piece where I can feel like really good about myself, really kinda set softball aside before I really go into game mode.

Kara

Yeah. It reminds me too, like you see that more and more, I think more and more female athletes are feeling comfortable kind of doing those like little bit outlandish things, you know? I mean, you I think of Jordi Ball with her like kind of crazy face paint. As a pitcher, that's a little bit out of the ordinary. Or, um, I don't know if you know who Ilona Maher is. Yeah. Rugby player. She does the bright red lipstick, right? Like- Oh, yeah as a rugby player to go out there. I mean, I just, I love, I love this idea of pairing femininity with sport. Like, just like it doesn't, it's not a masculine thing to be a good athlete. It's, it's absolutely a feminine trait. And so I love, I

Michaela

love pairing those together- Like, it's a part of being- and seeing that you know, it's part of being a girl. Like I- Mm-hmm am allowed to do, like enjoy whatever, you know, makes me happy, right? Like- Mm-hmm if we... Like, I always talk about it for people who do have issues with my makeup, and there's plenty. People are entitled to their own opinions. You are only entitled to listen to the opinions you wanna listen to. Mm-hmm. Hear that, ladies, okay? Like, you really truly do not have to listen to everyone's unspoken, right? Like their own opinion. Yeah. Like opinions are opinions, let them be. Um, but to even the people that like want to talk to me about it and they feel some type of way about my makeup, I always ask them, I'm like, "Well, if someone likes to go walk 15 minutes down and back for their coffee for r- for a pre-game, like would you make fun of them for that?" No.

Kara

Yeah.

Michaela

Why?

Kara

Yeah.

Michaela

Yeah. Because it's normal to you, right? Just because maybe- Yeah you don't seem normal or like have that type of involvement with makeup doesn't mean you should feel like, you know? You know what I mean? And we put a little bit of that perspective- Yeah lens on, and then it makes things, the clarity of things kind of brighten up, you know? Kinda take the opinions- Yeah for who you want in your circle, and for the things that make you happy, do them.

Kara

Yeah. No, there, there definitely needs to be more of that in the world, of just being you. Be who you are, unapologetically, and then that's when we all are at our best, right? We're all at our best when we're ourselves, and then the world gets blessed by the different people that are in it. When we're all trying to be- Absolutely the same person, you can't, you can't share what you have with the rest of the world. So I think that's, it's... Doesn't do anybody any good to hide themselves, for sure. All right. Can you share a little bit more... We chatted before we got on the call about volleyball and how your experience in volleyball helped you then face failure, um, in softball. Could you, could you share that with the girls? 'Cause I think- Yeah it'd

Michaela

be a great conversation. Absolutely. I, I think it was just, it's precious. Volleyball, it's a different type of mentality. How the game is played, the rules are played is a little bit different. And with that environment of the sport, um, when you make an error in volleyball, it feels like no biggie, no problem. Someone's bound to make an error, right? Um, you have up to 25 points, like it's literally best of 25, who gets there first? Um, and when you're playing that mentality type of sport, making an error, you have to be really quick and just forget about it, right? In softball, we make one error, and it feels like we just gave up the whole entire game. So- Yeah I think really being able to transition the volleyball mentality skills of like, yes, I made a error, it's up to me to first recognize it, accept it, and then allow myself to see what I just need to do, what is the process for me to do what I want to do to excel at, and then I go and I do it, right? And even if I'm not mastering it after the first error, I'm at least gonna allow myself to be vocal with my teammates so they can help me keep accountable or they can see where they can help fill in some of the areas that I may need some help in, right? And that's okay to lean to your left and right. But when you go internal and nobody knows what's going on in that thought process of yours, things get a little confused, and things can oftentimes get situated in a way of like, "Oh my gosh, do you care? Do you not care," right? And like, we get in those bubbles in our teams. Mm-hmm. But the more we can just remain, um, being external and lean to our left and right, it's gonna be a whole lot better.

Kara

I think it's funny, too, how we, like, create a, a false story around errors in softball. Like- Oh, yeah it actually is a lot like volleyball. There's tons of plays in a softball game. Now, you might only personally have three or four, right? Like, you're only gonna get maybe a few opportunities. Mm-hmm. But we tell ourselves that one error now has blown the whole game, when in reality, there's hundreds of more plays to be had. Yeah. And we just gotta get ready for the next one. And so I, I,

Michaela

I

Kara

think

Michaela

just- The touches, the touches on the ball just feel more limited with softball, right? They do. They

Kara

do.

Michaela

It's a little less controlled, right?

Kara

Yeah, for

Michaela

sure. But that's always the fun part.

Kara

Yeah.

Michaela

Volleyball you can literally- Right just like no sweat.

Kara

Yeah.

Michaela

Get on to the next, no biggie, right?

Kara

Yeah. And then you go into a sport like basketball where, so you li- literally don't even have an opportunity to, like, acknowledge your mistake 'cause you gotta get back.

Michaela

You gotta go. Like you

Kara

gotta get

Michaela

back.

Kara

Like, yeah. Like, you literally- Yeah, you can't sit there and think about how you missed a shot. It's

Michaela

like, yeah. Delete your worries, right?

Kara

Yeah. All right, Chloe

Warrior 1

How many injuries have you had between volleyball and softball, if any at all?

Michaela

Between volleyball and softball Well, I've had a couple, like, minor, you know, like I definitely tweaked my back a little bit sophomore year of high school. Um, and that was from running a slide play, um, being middle blocker As you can probably imagine, running a slide is a very brutal thing once you get going from travel softball to travel athletic. I was year-round, and it was a lot. But other than that, I've been pretty lucky. A, a

Kara

slide is faking, a slide is faking like you're going to the middle blocker spot and then going around behind the setter and hitting out of the right side spot. And so you gotta have a big rotation. That's what a slide is.

Michaela

Big

Kara

torque. Yeah. Big torque.

Michaela

I would literally be flinging my body to the side. Yeah. It's, like- Yeah insane. Um- Yeah but I would probably say, like, I've been pretty blessed. I did break this finger, um, my junior year, um, in college, uh, a little bit. It was kinda funny. I was out for nine games total. Um, and then I came back that same season, and I was playing, and ESPN really loved to, uh, do a, do a double-take on my little finger cast as I'm swinging with the bat- with it, like, off like this. So, and-

Kara

They're, like, zooming in.

Michaela

I still hit a home run. I still made magic happen. Like, a little finger implication wasn't, um, wasn't holding me back. And other than that, I would say I did have a little bit of a hamstring, um, strain at one moment in time. Please, please, please, it doesn't matter what you do, where you're at, please hydrate. Um, it was just literally me going to a football game. I had traveled up to Clemson for a football game, drove back. It's like a, it's like a honest eight-hour drive, if we're being legit, from there back to Tallahassee, and I didn't hydrate enough, and I had conditioning in the morning, and well, well, the eight-hour car ride caught up to me. So at the end of the day, I would really say most things are preventable into that space. Like, can you keep yourself in a really good head space, make sure you're taking care of your due diligence, right? We're not always, like, you know, gonna have the most blessed circumstances. Injuries may come or happen, but at some point, sometimes it's just there to give us a little bit more perspective of what we could be doing in other places other than being and playing and starting, right? So...

Kara

Yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. All right, well, we're running short on time. We really appreciate your time and you coming to, to talk to us. I- it's been really awesome to hear your perspective and, and all your stories. Um, I have one final question that we ask all of our guests, um, and that is, if you could time travel, if you could go back in time to, like, younger you, so, like, when, the age these girls are at, what would you tell yourself if you could go back in time?

Michaela

Hmm. If I could go back in time, I would truly tell myself, um- Always be yourself. And I know that sounds like a super corny thing, and a lot of us often have our own implications or issues with self-image or self-confidence. Um, and I think it's really funny, we hear oftentimes, like, the fake it till you make it. No, do it so you can be it, okay? Mm-hmm. I cannot emphasize that enough. Like, the whole faking it till you make it, if you fake it, are you ever gonna believe it? No, because you're giving yourself an illusion. It's fake, right? Then that way- Mm-hmm you have, like, two separate boxes. The biggest way and the best way to be the best version of yourself both on and off the field, make sure you're not separating yourself with that illusion. So do it until you are it. That way- Mm-hmm like, when you mean, like, one day, like, "Oh, I wanna be confident," one day you're gonna be able to go and look in the mirror and say, like, "No, I am confident." And there's gonna be the, uh, there's gonna be the uncomfortable feelings that you go through, right? And that's a good thing. If it's uncomfortable, that just means you're doing something you're not used to. And if that is choosing confidence, then I would go through that uncomfortable feeling every single day.

Kara

That's, it is such good advice. Unfortunate- I think it's unfortunate that it's kind of t- treated as cheesy, but I, I think it is such good advice to just be yourself, be who you are. Well, thank you so much, Mikayla. We really, really appreciate this. Um, check her out. Follow her on Instagram. You guys can... I'm sure she posts some of her, uh, pre-game looks on there, and-

Warrior 2

Mm-hmm

Kara

uh, follow the AUSL series, getting started here pretty soon. Yeah. Uh, we've got a couple of girls in Florida. Get out and go see her play and, um, we wish you the best season and, and continued health, and all the best going forward this season.

Michaela

Thank you

Contributor

Amanda Schaefer

Host