My name is Lauren Volk and I am a junior on the GVSU Women's Lacrosse team. This is my story. 

For most, a jersey is just fabric, a symbol of a team and a number, but for some athletes, it feels like something heavier, something that carries more than the weight of a game. For me, that weight wasn’t just physical; it was mental, emotional, and sometimes nearly impossible to bear. Cheers from the crowd and the smiles from my teammates couldn't lift the weight, and I began to realize that the heaviest battles are the ones fought quietly, beneath the surface.

As a student athlete, the world sees strength, endurance, and drive. Coaches see potential. Fans see excitement. But for me, there are nights of anxiety, moments of self-doubt, and the silent pressure to perform - not just in my sport, but in classes, friendships, and in life. The jersey I wear for my team started to feel like a weight pressing down, reminding me of every expectation that I felt I couldn't escape.

I remember the first time I noticed it - the heaviness wasn't just in my muscles, but in my mind. Practices felt longer, early mornings were harder, games felt intense, and every decision seemed deeper. I realized mental health struggles don't just stop when you take your jersey off or pause for a season. It doesn’t wait for finals to be over or until the scoreboard stops ticking. But yet, I was expected to “push through”, to hide the struggle and to appear strong.

Reaching out for help was hard. It meant acknowledging that the weight of the jersey wasn't just sweat and effort - it was anxiety, stress, and emotional exhaustion. It meant being vulnerable and talking about the invisible load I had been carrying. Getting help didn’t make the weight disappear; it just made it lighter. Sharing my struggles made me realize that the strength I have isn't just physical - it’s about being honest about what I was going through. Wearing my jersey doesn't mean I had to carry everything alone, and true strength comes from resilience, from support, and from knowing that my worth is more than a number on the uniform.

Over time, my jersey began to feel different. It’s still heavy at times, but now it carries resilience and my definition of true strength. I’m Lauren Volk, and I'm in the middle of my story, learning to put my jersey on with perspective on what's important and wear it with confidence.

Lauren Volk

#LakersRiseTogether