On September 17, Hamburg Area High School welcomed back a very well accomplished alumni, Karlie Kisha, for an inspiring talk with the entire student body. After graduating in 2014, Karlie Kisha continued to achieve greatly by earning a full scholarship to the University of Connecticut, where she played Division I field hockey and helped lead her team to two NCAA championships. Following that, she was even selected for the National Team in 2020, and despite the former head coach’s doubt, Karlie was able to play on the international stage and defeat the former head coach’s team, team India.
During her inspirational speech to HAHS students, Karlie emphasized the often-overlooked challenges of being a student-athlete, highlighting the “student” part. While athletic achievements can be widely recognized, the academic dedication that occurs at the same time can be overlooked. Karlie spoke about the early mornings spent in the gym, the hours of training, and the relentless focus required to excel, but also pointed out that she was prioritizing her studies at the same time to maintain a 3.4 GPA to remain eligible to play. Karlie, although a student-athlete talking about her experience, could not stress enough that her advice could be applied to any passion. Success in any passion requires discipline and balance, but behind every pursuit, there is a student navigating the complexities of both worlds.
Karlie Kisha offered some key advice to the students sitting exactly where she did 10 years ago. The first main point was to focus on the process. The main focus for most things in life should not be the outcome, instead, it should be the process that ends in the outcome. It is key to focus on the things that matter and are controllable. From there, someone can focus on where they are currently and the variables surrounding that, rather than where they hope to be in the distant future. It is hard to achieve that long-term goal when someone is not staying present and enjoying the process. Secondly, it is important to remain present. It is easy to dwell on the past and any mistakes made. It is also easy to set high expectations far into the future. Not enjoying what is happening in the moment will take away from the experience. It is hard for someone to enjoy and perform their best at the moment when they are so busy focusing on the past or the future. Thirdly, mental health matters. As Karlie stated before, balancing academics and a sport or whatever someone’s passion may be comes with challenges. It is important to make sure that everyone’s mental health is taken care of so they can perform their best. She reminded students that help is always available, whether through counselors, friends, or mentors, and stressed the importance of seeking support when needed. Finally, giving gratitude and finding joy is an important part of the process. Finding the things to be thankful for in one’s self, life, or abilities is important because it helps people remember what is important and prevents them from focusing on aspects too far away from those core values. There should always be joy in what someone does, because as Karlie says, “If you’re not having fun, why are you doing it?” She reminds students that not every moment will be a happy one. Life is full of ups and downs, but those happy moments should be appreciated and make the harder ones a bit easier to manage.
Following her strong and impactful speech, Karlie participated in a question and answer session with Hamburg Area’s principal, Mr. Ryan McGinley. This provided another opportunity for students to feel more engaged and gather insights into her successful journey.
Throughout Karlie Kisha’s career, she has made notable achievements. One of the greatest ones was making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics. On June 10 she found out that she would be a part of the U.S. women’s field hockey team alongside 15 other women. Five weeks before this, Karlie received heartbreaking news. After a doctor noticed a small lump on her neck she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This diagnosis threw her world through a loop. She had no idea what this meant for her life or her career. Karlie underwent many treatments and a successful surgery to be cleared to compete just five days before the Olympic team departed for Paris, where she went on to help her team earn two silver medals.
Despite all the obstacles that came at her, Karlie Kisha showed her resilience through college, through her career, and through the Olympics to become a successful athlete. After graduating from the University of Connecticut, Karlie went on to become a field hockey coach at Villanova. As for right now, she is taking some well-deserved time off to spend with friends and family. Although she does not have immediate plans, Karlie’s focus remains on staying present and enjoying the opportunities life continues to bring.
