#BearsOfBaylor — “Now I’m leaving Baylor with my identity in Christ.”

Daughter: “I came here for soccer. Honestly, Baylor was the best decision. I can honestly say it saved my life, coming here. I transferred here my sophomore year and got my life together. … I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I was so focused on soccer, and soccer was part of my identity. And then I came to Baylor and realized there’s more to life than a sport that can end any second. And that’s what ended up happening while I was here. I had a career-ending injury. I found Christ because of it and would not have a future or anything like that if it wasn’t for Baylor.

“I love Baylor. Baylor soccer — I mean, my teammates and my coaches — their foundation is Christianity, and I ended up finding faith out of it… My teammates at Baylor, and my coaching staff — they never gave up on me. Good day, bad day, didn’t matter. They were there for me, no matter what.”

Dad: “And the reward is December 17, she’s graduating! … It’s the biggest day for her and for us that she graduates from the best university in the world!”

Daughter: “When I came to Baylor, I had my identity as a failure as well as my identity in soccer. And now I’m leaving Baylor with my identity in Christ. I’m definitely not a failure anymore.”

Dad: “You see? That’s why we’re happy. That’s why.”

[Every Baylor Bear has a story; #BearsOfBaylor brings those stories to you, one by one. These stories, these people… This is our Baylor.]