Giving Back

Growing up in a small town in Nebraska, I was involved in all kinds of activities.

It’s easy to be a part of everything when your grade only has about 80 kids. I played soccer and basketball, I was the president of the student council, and I was involved in several other groups.

I guess I’ve always been drawn to leadership roles. I enjoy being involved in organizations where I can help make a difference.

I’m a big believer in using your platform to positively impact those around you.

That’s why when I found out about organizations like SAAC and Inner Circle, I knew I had to be a part of them.

I love soccer, but it’s not everything. I want to use my time in college to grow as a person and make an impact in other areas of my life.

Recently, Nebraska hosted the third annual Link-N-Leaders event, and I was fortunate to participate.

We had the opportunity to spend time with students in the Lincoln area who have been recognized as leaders in their schools.

My favorite moment was seeing several kids lead their peers in the “Boom Chicka Boom” chant.

A student would stand in front of their peers and chant, “I said uh Boom Chicka Boom!” to which their fellow classmates would echo, “I said uh Boom Chicka Boom!” And as the chant grows, so does the volume and energy of our session.

With something so silly, I saw kids gain confidence on how to handle themselves in front of a crowd.

I think it’s so important to instill leadership qualities in kids at a young age. They’re the future leaders of our communities, so we need to do everything we can to help them grow and develop.

I’m so thankful to be part of a university, athletic department, and community that values events like Link-N-Leaders.

It’s an honor to spend time with these kids and help make a difference in their communities.

It’s truly one of the highlights of my time here at Nebraska.

 

 

 

 

 

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Becoming a leader

I’ve always been involved in leadership roles in one way or another, so I was fortunate to have a lot of experience coming into college.

From a young age, my dad always taught me how important it is to have a positive attitude and give 100 percent effort, no matter what I’m doing.

He always emphasized controlling the controllables,  and it’s stuck with me ever since.

My junior year, my teammates voted me team captain. It was validation that I had not forgotten the lessons my dad taught me.

It was a great privilege to have my teammates recognize me as a leader of this team.

I’m a very vocal leader, and I always try to show up and lead by example. I work my hardest and maintain a good attitude to set the tone for my teammates.

It’s not always easy, but I strive to be there for my teammates both on and off the field.

For me, it is not just teammates, but family.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a captain at the University of Nebraska. It is an honor I don’t take lightly.

Being a student-athlete and captain comes with a lot of responsibility, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Abbey Schwarz gets @HuskerSoccer on the board first ‼️

📺: ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/G8t6cajvvk

— Big Ten Soccer (@B1GSoccer) November 19, 2023

Journey as a student-athlete

When I got to college, it was a little bit of a learning curve to say the least.

I quickly realized I wasn’t the best player on the team. Everyone here was the best from where they came from and I knew I was going to have to work hard to earn my spot on the field.

I got to start a lot of games my freshman year, which was amazing, but it was a bit of a rebuilding year for our program. Sophomore year came, and I didn’t start as many games as I did the year before. I went from being one of the best players on my high school and club teams to not starting in college. It was a reality check, but I was determined to keep working hard and become the best player I could be.

I tried to find other ways to contribute to the team and help us win games. I was still learning and growing as a player, and I knew if I trust the process, my time would come.

It was definitely a challenging time for me, but I am thankful for it.

I was fortunate to start the majority of our games my junior year, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to play for such an awesome program.

I learned so much from those experiences, and I’m a better player and person because of it.

There’s no doubt I’ve had my fair share of adversity throughout my time in college, both on and off the field.

But I’ve learned to keep a positive attitude and give 100 percent effort, no matter what I’m going through, just like my dad taught me.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to play the sport I love and earn a degree from such an amazing University.

I wouldn’t trade my time at Nebraska for anything.

As a student-athlete, I have a lot on my plate. Between classes, practice, and games, it can be tough to find time for anything else.

But I think it’s so important to get involved in other organizations and find ways to make a positive impact off the field.

I’m a firm believer in using your platform to make a difference in the world, and I try to do that in any way I can.

That’s why I wanted to get involved in organizations like SAAC and the Inner Circle. These opportunities have given me new ways to get involved and give back to the community.

To be part of a university and athletic department that share my passion for community involvement and making a difference in the world means everything to me.