High school can be a very stressful place in an adolescent’s life. The ability to keep up a social life, grades, work, sports, and still get a decent amount of sleep is almost unheard of. This struggle is enough to cause an average high schooler’s weekly mental breakdown before choosing to stop their homework and embark on a multiple hour Netflix binge. Someone who sets herself apart from this crowd is senior Kristen Malebranche. Although known for her success in academics as well as on the soccer field, Malebranche did not have an easy path to her success.

Beginning freshman year, Malebranche spent almost every weekend traveling from college to college, participating in soccer ID camps, hoping to get noticed by college coaches. When she wasn’t traveling the country, she was going to both school soccer practice as well as practice for her club team, PDA. Along with physical attempts to get an offer to play at the collegiate level, Kristen also spent a lot of her time calling and emailing coaches to get her name out in the soccer world.

“There are tons of factors that can ruin the entire process,” Malebranche said. “Coaches come to watch you play and you have to play well. If you don’t play well, coaches will lose patience and interest quickly. Injuries also impact the recruiting process. If you are injured, coaches can’t see you play or if you do play, you are not playing at your very best.”

Coaches are in a rush to find a recruiting class, and will not stop their search due to one player’s injury. Kristen experienced many injuries, including a torn ACL, but did not let this stop her from fighting to achieve her dream.

Eventually, with offers from esteemed programs such as Saint Joe’s, UMASS (Amherst), University of Southern Florida, and Monmouth, Malebranche decided to continue her academic and athletic career at Mississippi State University, a Division I school.  As if that was not enough of an accomplishment, Kristen also decided to graduate early, and travel to college for the spring semester.

She recognized the grueling schedule Division I sports include, and decided to get an early start on her academics during soccer’s “off” season. This will help her to adjust to college life more easily before her season begins. She leaves around Jan. 5, and quickly begins classes on the Jan. 9, majoring in Biological Sciences.

Malebranche is excited to meet new people, and gain a whole new perspective on the world. Her biggest fear is adjusting to meeting brand new people. However, everyone knows she will get along with everyone effortlessly. Good luck Kristen, we are all rooting for you! Once a Raider, always a Raider.