Meet Lady'Back Kelli Cole

This weekend was an absolute blast. We beat both Ole Miss and Mississippi State. So now, we’re 3-1 in conference.

College is so exciting. Being from Arkansas and now getting the chance to be an Arkansas Lady Razorback is the greatest thing imaginable. I have grown up being a Hogs fan (along with the rest of the AR population), and just being here is indescribable. I still remember the feeling I got the night of our first home match. The crowd, the band, and the cheerleaders…everything was just awesome. When we ran out of the Hog while the fight song was playing, I almost cried. It sounds sort of stupid I know, but it is probably the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. In Arkansas, the Razorbacks are what everyone knows about…if you meet someone on the street and happen to talk about being a Razorback or even just beingassociated with the University of Arkansas, can maketwo people instant friends. That’s the kind of power the name "Razorbacks" has over people in Arkansas. I’vecome to the games up here since 7th grade, and now I’m a freshman at the school I’ve always wanted to come to…I’m right in the middle of it and I could not ask for anything more. I have so much fun with my teammates and the whole college experience!

But there is also the work side of things. I love what I’m doing, but there comes a point to everything when you get so overwhelmed with everything that is going on, that you need to sit down and have a good cry. I know that has happened for me. There is just so much going on…going to class, doing homework, getting in our study hall hours that we have to have for the week, practice, games and travel time, doing your own laundry, washing your own dishes, and trying to balance a social life with all of that…it is by far the toughest thing I’ve ever done. It is a definite gut check. The fact that there are only 24 hours in a day makes everything so hard. You know you have so much to do, and somehow the day seems to get away from you, and before you know it, it is 10:30 and you still have two papers to write before the morning, and this is after you’ve been doing homework for 3 hours straight! I am taking an anthropology class and I am about 3 weeks behind in it, just because of travel and matches and stuff that the average college student doesn’t have to figure into his day. However, I have been blessed with great teachers who are willing to work with me.And they make it not seem so bad.

My whole life, I’ve been such a perfectionist:I’ve always turned in every homework assignment on time and have always been very responsible about school work and things like that, but in college the difficulty of everything is magnified by what seems like 1000. I’ve learned that being a perfectionist is not fair to me, because, honestly, how much can you expect of yourself as a freshman? For one, I have no idea of what is expected of me…all I can do is my best and keep a positive attitude. I’ve learned not to put so much pressure on myself, andeven though I do have more responsibilities than a regular student, I can still take time to breathe. I can sit back and experience what college is really about. But,because I have more responsibilities, I must work harder than the average student. I must do what is expected and more just becauseof the traditionthat Ihave become a part of. It is hard work, but I love every minute of it.

I have learned (and am still learning) how to find a balance in my life and not to get so bogged down in just work, work, work all the time and never relaxing to realize that "hey, I’m a Lady ‘Back…I play volleyball in college. I get the opportunity to do something many girls only dream of doing. And what’s better: I get to do it at the U of A…the place I’ve always wanted to be!"

I absolutely love everything about being here…the competition is amazing, the new friendships I’m building, the old friendshipsI’m sustaining, I’m close enough for my family to come toevery home game, the atmosphere, the people, the overall experience. I think that being in college makes you appreciate where you came from. I love sayingthat I’m from Russellville, Arkansas. I love knowing that I’m from the South, but most of all, I love being able to say, "I’m Kelli Cole andI am a Lady Razorback."