Acing UCR and Ann Arbor

Name: Monique Holt

UCR alumnus

Member of UCR Volleyball team (2010-2012)

It was volleyball that led me to UCR. I always knew that I wanted to play in college, but I also wanted to be relatively close to home (Northern California). When it came down to making a decision, UCR was a great fit for me because it allowed both of those things, and much more. Upon making my decision, I remembered an encounter with a camp counselor back in middle school. The counselor was a UCR alumna and her shared experiences are what made UCR sound like a fun place to be. It was not until high school when I realized that UCR was an option for me, so I applied, and the rest is history.

I currently live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, working for the Academic Success Program within the University of Michigan's athletic department. The most important lesson that I learned at UCR was to work hard for what you want. I learned how to talk to the right people when I needed direction or assistance. During undergrad, I finally had the chance to be on my own and grow into an adult. UCR was a big enough place where I was able to experience many new things, but also small enough that I was able to feel a part of a community. UCR Athletics was special because we had a group of people, not just from your own team, who were all having similar experiences to you. We were there to navigate college with together. UCR Athletics was always a close-knit community that just felt like being apart of a giant family.

I have visited campus once since graduation, but I usually take a few trips to visit my UCR friends regularly, throughout the year. I stay in contact with former teammates, friends and other athletes from different teams. I was actually in two of their weddings this past year! (See picture below - All UCR Athletics alumni!)

In five years I see myself still working in college athletics. My ultimate goal is to work in Europe. I think what I am looking forward to the most in five years is owning a house, and having a secure job so that I can just focus on enjoying my life, which would of course have to include yearly vacations to visit all of my friends from UCR.

If I went back in time, I would tell myself to start thinking about my plans for when I was done with college and finished playing sports earlier. I say this because college is such a fun time in your life, that sometimes it was easy to live in the moment and forget about planning for the future.

In five years I would like to see UCR Athletics being competitive with top programs in California, as well as the country. Being involved in academics, I would love to see a greater focus on academics within Athletics. Expanding the student support programs would continue to support the student athletes in more ways than one! UCR is growing so much as an institution that it would be great to see the Athletics department grow in the same way.

I don't think I have just one most memorable moment during my time at UCR. I think my most memorable moments were meeting all of my friends, and all the fun days and nights we had together. I wouldn't have survived without the close friends I made at UCR - and college wouldn't have been as fun as it was!

#whotellsyourstory #collegeathlete #volleyball #ucralumnus