EP#64: Hunter Valley rower Sarah Abrams on her life changing NCAA D1 Collegiate Rowing Career at University of Tennessee

What happens when a single Facebook message completely changes your life? For Sarah Abrams, a talented young rower from Australia's Hunter Valley, that message—which she initially suspected was a scam—became the first step on an extraordinary journey across the Pacific to NCAA Division I rowing.Alexia sits down with Sarah as she shares the raw, unfiltered story of her transformation from a high school athlete who "didn't even know what a conference was" to an accomplished collegiate rower at the University of Tennessee. With disarming honesty and infectious enthusiasm, she recounts the whirlwind decision to accept a January intake offer that had her boarding a plane in late December, fighting back tears as she left everything familiar behind. Those early months tested her resilience as she navigated intense training camps, academic pressures, and profound homesickness—yet the community she found among teammates and coaches became her lifeline.Sarah debunks the myth that pursuing American collegiate athletics means sacrificing opportunities to represent your home country, sharing how she successfully made the Australian national team while competing for Tennessee. The emotion in Sarah's voice is palpable as she describes putting on the green and gold: "There's a kangaroo on my back!"Alexia and Sarah also cover an aspect of Sarah's journey often overlooked in the media despite its significant impact: the transition back to your home country after US college graduation. After four years of independence, intense training, and immersion in American culture, Sarah speaks about returning to her childhood bedroom and adjusting to life without her established college support network. She dives into the importance of self-compassion during this transition, allowing oneself to feel the full range of emotions that come with such a significant life change.Whether you're a listener considering a US rowing scholarship, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about different US college sporting pathways, Sarah's journey offers valuable wisdom about embracing opportunities, trusting the process, and discovering capabilities you never knew you possessed. Listen now to understand why this self-proclaimed "hype woman" believes this experience—challenges and all—was unequivocally "the best thing I've ever done."Loving this podcast? Leave us a review and send us any guests & topics you want us to cover via email at [email protected]