#anywhere

"I guess."

"Do you love sports?" She asks

Bounce. Frown.

"I like them." A pause. "I'm good at them."

"So you are. Well, here's a secret they don't always tell you." She says "You're allowed to use what you're good at to achieve goals doing what you love. Or even finding what you love. Sports can be a career, sure, but it can also be a means to get the career you want. Or find what that career is."

"I don't want to be a pro."

"Womens... well, you know." She shrugs.

"Hustle your ass for 1 tenth the pay, one third the fame? Can't blame you. There's a reason I went to coaching as soon as I could" She admits

She nods. "And take whatever team you can get... Live on the road..." She frowns.

"Then milk this system for what you can, not like we get nothing from the best of your college athletic years whatever you do after. Then, say no to the pros. Use the learning here to get yourself a steady job doing what you love right here in Jersey. No shame in that. Hell, I respect it. "

She bites on her lip and nods.

"I don't like... giving things up. I couldn't do both."

"Here's the thing. If I was right, we already know you want to stay in Jersey. Maybe you even want to stay in your home town or city. If that's the case, college isn't giving it up. It's getting the right gear to get yourself, and your loved ones, an even better grip on it. "

Another lip bite and a slow nod.

"And who knows, you might even end up LOVING what you do" A smile "Worth a shot?"

"True."

A nod "You should go with Rutgers. But you expect me to say that. As for Basketball or Track and Field? You should go with which one gets YOU the best deal for you. Scholarship wise. I'll help you with either if you want. Though I get you may want to talk to your folks first. And I'd be happy to talk to them too." She gestures "My office is right over there"

Frown. Slow nod.

"Okay. Why the Frown? " She doesn't seem insulted

She looks down at the ball in her hands. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize. Was it the parents thing? Bad habit of my age, sometimes I want to treat the new ones like kids and that's kind of condescending. Older I get, the younger the rest of you seem" She admits "Obviously this is doesn't have to include them if you don't want"

"No... it's not that."

"Okay. Something I need to work on regardless. So why the frown? You're allowed to frown, but don't be too polite to let me know why"

"I..." She shrugs.

"Wouldn't you be mad if I wanted to do track?"

"Hell no. Oh don't get me wrong, I want talent and I'd see it as a missed chance for the team sure, but the basketball team isn't a charity that needs you to take pity on it. You should look out what's best for YOU and yours. And Track needs good folks too. Still helps the college to have talent there too. It's really a win win for the school whichever you take on. Schoalarships aren't a 'gift' to you, you have to qualify. You qualify for more than one? Then of course go for the one that's best for what will help you reach YOUR Goals"

She chews on a knuckle and nods.

"I'm good at basketball." Without ego, just a fact.

"I think I might be better at shot."

"No shame in playing to your strengths"

"Mm."

"You have soemtime to mull it over. "

"Not much, though."

"Not much" She says agreeing "I could bullshit you but what wwould be the point. You do have SOME time though so if you need that some time use it"

She nods.

She nods "if you need me. you know where my office is. "