Whilst everyone was once locked up of their homes throughout quarantine, some will have dreamt of going to the seashore. For California natives like senior midfielder/ahead Maggie Lena, that dream was once a fact.

“So firstly of quarantine, the seashores had been closed. But if the seashores spread out, it was once a good time for me to have a role (surf camp counselor) that was once open air, doing what I like and simply getting out of the home on the whole,” Lena stated.

Lena in particular loves browsing, one thing that she has been doing since she was once just a little lady. Being from Santa Monica, California, Lena all the time had the power to visit the seashore, and that’s the place her love for browsing started.

“When I used to be more youthful, I went to a surf camp known as Surf Academy, and I went there all right through heart college,” Lena stated.

In the end the ones summers spent within the water, Lena evolved a love for the game, however by no means had the aspirations to head professional. For her, it was once extra of a amusing job to break out from the arena and be one with the water.

“For me, simply being within the ocean and being in that protected position and having that individualistic side of browsing was once wonderful,” Lena stated. “I took that point to assume and mirror, but additionally to have a great time within the water.”

Even though she beloved her time within the water, football was once nonetheless a large a part of her existence. Balancing each sports activities was once one thing Lena needed to adapt to, however she would all the time to find time to go online, despite the fact that it was once proper earlier than she went at the street for tournaments.

“For me, football was once all the time my precedence, and browsing was once extra of some way that I were given to revel in the sea, and being with family and friends and simply being on the seashore on the whole,” Lena stated. “However there have been certainly instances that it could be a Saturday recreation and I’d stand up early and go browsing within the morning, after which get at the street and pass directly to the sport.”

Being a ways from house will also be difficult, however for Lena this can be a method to bond along with her teammates who additionally continue to exist the West Coast. Redshirt first-year Katie Smith is from Phoenix, Arizona and the 2 have constructed a detailed dating. 

“We adore to shaggy dog story about it at all times,” Lena stated. “I feel it’s one thing to damage tensions, particularly in the event you simply met the individual. Every now and then we’re at the similar flight again house, in order that’s all the time great.”

For Smith, having any person who is aware of the right way to regulate to being a ways clear of house was once very useful getting into Marquette, however Lena’s compassion off the sector was once additionally massive for a tender participant like herself. 

“Maggie is any person who if truth be told cares about other folks’s well-being,” Smith stated. “She simply cares on a deeper stage than the general public and is a in reality excellent useful resource to have on the whole, since you all the time knew in the event you had been having a coarse day, you’ll want to all the time pass to her and she or he would inform you a shaggy dog story or select you up.”

Sophomore defender Addie Surprise loves being round Lena as effectively.

“She’s tremendous compassionate, tremendous glad and tremendous are living,” Surprise stated. “You’ll all the time depend on her to simply make you smile.” 

No longer most effective is she an excellent compassionate teammate, however off the sector she strives to serve the neighborhood. 

Lena has been part of the Scholar Athletes Advocating for Exchange program at Marquette for 2 years. Serving because the vice chairman of this system, she has been in a position to coordinate many occasions and workshops, together with one on allyship in August. 

Lena discussed that her love for browsing has helped her use her voice and platform to boost consciousness for variety and inclusion. She is a camp counselor on the browsing camp she went to as a child and she or he has been in a position to make use of that chance to convey all varieties of other folks in combination. 

“Operating on the surf camp, I used to be serving to children right through L.A.,” Lena stated. “So for me, that was once additionally a contribution of giving that individual just a little style of the sea, and browsing. And browsing brings all varieties of other folks in combination.”

Even though she was once no longer in a position to wait protests and marches because of COVID-19, that didn’t stay Lena from the usage of her platform to get up in opposition to the problems in the US as of late. 

“I used to be seeking to do issues outdoor … posting on social media,” Lena stated. “I used to be seeking to get ready for varsity and began making plans occasions and ensuring my subcommittee thru SAAC was once arranged.”

With over 1,400 fans on Instagram, Lena has a platform that other folks would possibly no longer have. She has made certain that this platform is used for trade. 

“With the ability to teach others on how they are able to simply be higher participants of the neighborhood and the way they are able to give a boost to and admire and be told extra about their friends, and other folks on the whole, is in reality giant,” Lena stated. “I’m in reality thankful that I were given to fill this place and set the precedent for Marquette transferring ahead.” 

Lena stated she owes the platform she has to her football occupation as a result of with out it, her voice may not be as giant. 

“I wouldn’t have this platform if I wasn’t enjoying football and I wouldn’t have the similar relationships and information of the issues I’ve now,” Lena stated. “We’ve got the eyes and the platform in an effort to get out our voice, but additionally magnify different voices and to ensure that all pupil athletes really feel supported and revered through each their friends and workforce.“

Lena was once the Baird Blue & Gold Scholar Athlete of the Month in August. The award is given to a student-athlete that has been decided on through Marquette Athletics’ Lecturers and Scholar Techniques workforce. Lena stated that obtaining the award intended the entirety to her and that that is most effective the start of her adventure. 

“For me, it was once like a large high-five, you already know?” Lena stated. “I stay up the great paintings understanding that I’m no longer completed and I’ve this entire 12 months, after which expectantly when I graduate, proceeding this battle for justice.”

Even though the season is about to begin within the spring, Lena stated she is not going to let herself get distracted through football and can use the game to assist proceed the battle in opposition to racial injustice in the US. 

This tale was once written through Kristin Parisi. She will also be reached at kristin.parisi@marquette.edu or on Twitter @kristinparisimu.