AI Answer
The college experience has been incredibly positive for me. I've found that honing my craft and striving to be the best in my chosen pursuits while also balancing other aspects of my life, such as academics and personal growth, has been very rewarding. One of the biggest realizations for me in college was understanding the technical and mental aspects of the game at this level. It's important to do the little things and to strive to be the best you can be, especially when everyone around you was also the best in high school. Staying focused and using the tools I learned growing up has been crucial, helping me prioritize and benefit from the things that really matter. Looking back, I'm proud of what I've achieved in college, and my efforts are all in honor of the child I was when I first started playing sports in elementary school. Balancing sports and academics has been important to me, as I've come to love both aspects of college life. Ultimately, I've found an amazing experience in college, falling in love with the academics, the coaches, the sport, and the program as a whole. I never want to leave Ann Arbor, and I've had the opportunity to explore different programs and understand what they offer, what they expect from recruits, and what I want from a school.

Haley Polk | Michigan Lacrosse

And I'm like , ok , you're right . And I went and I'm so glad that I did because I've had the most incredible experience in college here . And it's literally my home .

Haley Polk | Michigan Lacrosse

So I think like being really focused on lacrosse and getting better in school grades are so important . And I think just trying to like hone in your craft and all of those things and be the best that you can in those things and balancing them and just being a good person has been , I think the best thing for me in college so far , what you don't realize before you come to college is how technical and mental the game is . And it's really important to use that and better that before you get to school .

Haley Polk | Michigan Lacrosse

But the people and the resources that are here have been so beneficial for me to learn and grow in that area . But yeah , I just think like doing the little things and being the best you can is the best piece some challenges like in high school , like everyone is , everyone in college was the best in high school . And I think being one of the top prospects in high school was great and it taught me a lot because I was able to gain confidence .

Haley Polk | Michigan Lacrosse

And I think that's been the best piece of advice that I've been able to utilize in school um in my college career . Some of the most important things that I've been able to hone in on um in my college career are just trying to stay focused , like using the tools that I learned growing up being focused in lacrosse and only having my focus in things that were a priority to me and that would benefit me in the future . So I think like being really focused on lacrosse and getting better in school grades are so important .

Haley Polk | Michigan Lacrosse

And I think I try to carry that into lacrosse , into school and into my daily life . And I think that's been the best piece of advice that I've been able to utilize in school um in my college career . Some of the most important things that I've been able to hone in on um in my college career are just trying to stay focused , like using the tools that I learned growing up being focused in lacrosse and only having my focus in things that were a priority to me and that would benefit me in the future .