Sydney DeNardo is a tennis player at Monmouth University in New Jersey, but she is originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. When Sydney was getting recruited she was looking at a couple of schools in the state because she didn't want to be too far away from home. Her goal was to find a school in Pennsylvania but as long as the drive wasn't too bad out-of-state she didn't mind expanding her options. So when she found Monmouth University it was perfect because it was only an hour and a half away from her hometown. 

Related: Rate Monmouth University

Even so, it can be scary to attend college out-of-state as a college athlete, so Sydney told us about some fears she had going to an out-of-state school vs. the not-so-scary realities. 

Fear: Making friends. 

No one from Sydney's high school was going to the same school so she had to start all over. What if she didn't make friends? Would that ruin her college experience?

Reality: Her team was super friendly and inviting. 

Sydney's teammates became her best friends instantly and through them she met so many new people. These are some of her best friends that she is still close with. 

Fear: Being homesick

This was constantly going through Sydney's mind because she is very close to her family. Although she was close to home, practice and competitions oftentimes prevent athletes from doing much traveling on the weekends

Related Article: Homesickness: The Effect on Schoolwork, Athletic Performance, and Social Life

Reality: Facetime is a beautiful thing. 

Whenever you feel a little homesick your family is only one call away. Going home on breaks made it so much easier for Sydney to cope as well. This rejuvenated her for the next few months. When in doubt she is only an hour and a half away so she can always take a quick drive home. 

Fear: Questioning her decision

Sydney thought if she didn't like the school, she would be stuck and not be able to just drive home when she wanted…especially with no car her freshman year and the time demands of being an athlete. 

Reality: Sydney loves her school and made the right decision

She said she has never felt like she needed to go home for any reason. She says on your visit ask questions that relate to you and your values. If you don't, then finding the right school on the first try may be a little difficult. And remember: transferring is always an option.

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* Originally published on September 7, 2022, by Anna Garrett