From 3rd ACL Tear to Everest Base Camp in 13 Months

What happens when you stop playing the sport that shaped your entire identity?In this episode, we’re talking about the very real transition from college athlete to “normal life” — and why so many no former athletes struggle with losing structure, purpose, validation, and identity after sports end.Jen, a retired Division III soccer player turned physical therapist and business owner, shares her experience navigating athlete identity, ACL recovery, burnout, perfectionism, and the mental side of life after college sports. After tearing her ACL three separate times, including once during her senior season of college soccer, she opens up about grief, rehab, resilience, and learning how to channel her competitive mindset into new challenges outside of athletics.We also dive into:The pressure of chasing athletic scholarships and playing college sportsChoosing Division III athletics over the D1 grindRecovering from multiple ACL tearsThe emotional side of sports injuries and rehabNo former athlete identity and post-college depressionBurnout, hustle culture, and productivity addictionLearning how to rest without guiltTransitioning from student-athlete to working professionalBuilding confidence outside of sportsFinding purpose through fitness, movement, and entrepreneurshipHiking to Everest Base Camp after ACL surgeryIf you’ve ever struggled with life after sports, missed the structure of being an athlete, or wondered why achievement and productivity became tied to your self-worth, this conversation will hit home.Whether you’re a no former athlete, college athlete, physical therapist, runner, soccer player, or someone figuring out who you are after a major life transition — this episode is for you.