Letters to My Younger Self: 2023 Women's Basketball Graduates

On Feb. 18, Texas State women's basketball will recognize five players for “Graduate Day” in Strahan Arena. The annual tradition of sending off the senior class will take place, but ahead of the final game in a Bobcat uniform at home, the five wrote letters to their younger selves and offered to advice to current and future Bobcats alike.

Ja'Kayla Bowie

Dear younger me,

Just breathe and remember you are a beautiful, smart, and heartfelt young woman. You are a light in many peoples lives, you are deeply loved, and you are not alone. Always remember who you are and where you come from.

You are very sensitive and vulnerable, but you mask it so well that others may see you as closed off and guarded. I want you to know that it’s okay to show your vulnerability and to be open to others. Putting yourself out there will open so many amazing doors and relationships that you’ll have for a lifetime.

Know that you are more than enough and that your intellect and compassion will take you further in life than you can ever imagine. Don’t beat yourself up for the choices you make or feel like life isn’t worth living. I promise you it is. Never shy away from your faith. God loves you just like he loves everyone else. Life will become much clearer when you create your own relationship with him. Don’t let people tell you what you can and can’t do or what you can and can’t be. You can be and do anything you want to as long as you stay true to who you are and stick to your faith. 

Don’t let hard times make you lose confidence. You have always been a very confident girl. Don’t lose it because people talk about you or because you feel like you can’t figure out your niche. Never dim your light to make others feel better. Always shine bright. Stand out because that’s who you’ve always been. You will soon realize that you belong and you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Don’t be afraid to ask questions even if it makes others uncomfortable. You are a leader, don’t try to fit in. 

Learn to let things go. Instead, focus on the positives in life. One day you’ll realize that focusing on the positives will help you find solutions to your problems. I honestly could share so many things with you, but just know everything will be ok. You will grow into an exceptional woman. I love you more than anything kid.

Love always,

Ja’Kayla

Tianna Eaton

Dear younger me,

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Stepping out of your comfort zone leads to you moving 1,400 miles from home. The adjustment won’t be the easiest. You’ll be nervous, you’ll get home sick, and you’ll feel super lost at times. But throughout it all, keep in mind that “high risk, high reward” gets you through it. By taking that risk of moving away from home to pursue your dreams, you’ve obtained the highest rewards possible. You grew up and ended up learning more about yourself than you’ve ever imagined. You will also meet friends who soon turn into family. These same friends are people you now can’t imagine how your life would be if you had never met them. These friends teach you the true meaning of unconditional love.

Injuries will test you both mentally and physically. There will be times when you feel like you can’t catch a break. There will be times when your injuries will make you never want to pick up a ball again. You’ll see people who got injured at the same time as you but make their comeback before you. It will be extremely frustrating. When you feel all this frustration build up, focus on what you can control. It is important to remember that it will be a long and slow grind. The days you don’t feel like doing rehab you have to go harder. The days you feel like giving up you must remember your why. I promise you, in your last season of playing at the collegiate level, you’ll be so happy you stuck it out. Even if you can’t always see it, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Trust in the process and divine timing. 

Have fun! Don’t be in a rush to grow up. Enjoy traveling and not having to pay a dime. Enjoy the long bus rides with your teammates. Enjoy the coaches forcing you to get in ice baths. Enjoy the annoying curfew checks. All those little things that you find annoying will soon be tied together with some of the funniest memories you have with your teammates. You are fortunate enough to just play basketball and go to school for six years. That is something people dream about. Make the most out of every second you get to spend with your team because it goes by in the blink of an eye

With only a few more games left, you’ve made it to the end of your collegiate career. You worked extremely hard to get here. Once you make it here, soak it all in. You did something that not everyone can say they’ve done. You played Division I basketball and obtained your Masters in Education. That is something to be proud of. In this next phase of your life that you’re about to enter remember that keeping God first has got you to where you are today. Also remember to continue to love hard on those around you, and be the best at whatever you put your mind to. 

-Tianna

Da'Nasia Hood

Dear Da’Nasia,

When you step foot on the Texas State campus, get ready to become someone you don’t even recognize anymore and embark on a whole new journey. 

Over these next five years you will exceed far more than you ever thought you could have. I know you only know McDonald’s and Granny’s Gumbo, but this life will offer you so much more than just new taste buds. You will begin to find your confidence, your strength, and your will power. As you begin your first year of college stay open to new experiences, people, and knowledge. 

Take your school seriously as your grades, efforts and habits in the classroom now will be so important in your future choice you make to continue school. The opportunity for a free education is something many people don’t get where you are from and you will see this as you outgrow so many people from home, so don’t take this for granted. 

You are going to go through trials and tribulations that will build you for the next phases of life and make memories that will last a lifetime. You will also make connections with people who will forever hold a special place in your heart. I know all you ever wanted to do was hoop and be one of the best at it, but you will find that you are so much more than just a basketball player. So don’t get so tied up in wanting to be one of the best that you forget to have fun because these years will fly by so quickly. Don’t forget to just live in the moment and enjoy the people that have been placed in your life for many reasons. 

Right now, you are just a little girl from the east side of San Antonio, Texas with two hard-working parents that taught you nothing more than stay down, be humble, be resilient, and dream big. You will find that you are a leader of a team, program, school, and community that is watching you and the decisions you make. Be smart and mindful of the people you affect and how you affect yourself when you make certain decisions. Work hard, have fun, and step into the light God has always shined upon you. 

The lifestyle routine you build now is what will carry you through the rest of the phases of your life and what you will be able to offer your own family. You will be the first of your family to accomplish these beginnings, so yes you will feel alone at times. However, I promise you are not. Your family is going to be proud and you have a lot of people supporting you on this path. Don’t be so stubborn that you push away the people who are here to help you become the best basketball player and young woman possible. Let them care for you, I promise it is only to build you. 

I know you are still learning, but there is so much out there to experience, so just do it. Don’t be scared. Stay encouraged. Let the process happen. Sit in the ups and downs. Take care of yourself physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally and the rest will fall into place. 

With love, 

Da’Nasia Hood

Taelour Pruitt

Dear Lil TP, 

GIRL! Head up at all times baby girl, you are HER. You have grown into such a beautiful, young woman. The woman you are today is someone you would look up to: a role model, an idol, an inspiration. You are nothing short of amazing. Your road has been nowhere easy. You have had so many obstacles thrown at you and you have conquered them all. Since 2008, when you started this journey, you have been dedicated, you have been hard working, and you have been patient. Nothing has been handed to you and nothing ever will be but you have handled it like a DIVA every chance you got!  You are so blessed and highly favored. Since a little girl your dream was to play on TV in front of everybody, and you are doing just that! 

Along the way you committed to play Division I basketball and get your degree. Your first year away from home in 2019 when Granddaddy Ted passed away, you didn't think you would be able to get through it. You did not understand why this tragedy would happen at this time in your life. Seeing your Daddy and Rhams in the saddest form they had ever been broke you into pieces you could not describe. Grandaddy Ted not being able to see your future success and call you after games and see him when you went home to visit wasn’t the same, but you managed to overcome that and play for him when you stepped on the court. I’m so proud of you for never stopping. 

Your second year in college was HECTIC! Battling that fact that you were 10 hours away from home and realizing you were tired of school and just wanted to hoop. But that was not realistic. Good things don't come easy. Just as a sophomore, all your 5 a.m. workouts with Daddy were paying off. You were in a position to lead your team to a conference championship, something that was not done in SEMO History. During this exciting season you accomplished so much, like beating an SEC team for the first time ever in history and scoring 17 points in that win. Would you believe me if I told you that’s what you would be doing just year two into college? That’s not even the best part. You also would later in this season tear your rotator cuff in your left shoulder which would change your game forever. Like the warrior you are, you finished this season with no surgery and just a brace to help you the rest of the way. You’ve always been one that everyone gravitated too, never going unnoticed, being the center of attention. That’s exactly what you did!! Going to the conference tournament and hitting the game winning shot to advance you to the next round! A DREAM come true! 3,2,1 GAMEEEE! Something you dreamed of as a kid and you did just that! Guess who loved that? Grandaddy Ted. he had the best seat in the house. Oh yeah, Sportscenter loved it too! #1 Play on Sportscenter Top 10? That’s something everyone doesn’t do. It was even better that you guys went to win the whole thing and make history! Who would’ve thought. 

You pushed through so much in your years in Missouri in college. After getting your bachelor’s degree for FREE, you decided to move back closer to home and be a Bobcat at Texas State. Texas State has given you a different perspective of life and an opportunity to restart and find yourself again. You’ve done exactly that. 

Five years of being on your own, being a student-athlete faced with so much adversity and obstacles thrown in front of you to stop you from succeeding. You have handled it like a Queen. Your story is nowhere near finished yet.

The advice I would give you is to stay true to yourself. No matter where you go, who you are around, be you. And to never doubt yourself. It is okay to cry when things get rough and you are not seeing the better sides of things but wipe your tears and bounce back stronger than things sent to destroy you. Keep working hard and you will be rewarded. You are your own light and you are covered by God’s hands. Your future is already written. So don’t be so hard on yourself. Keep working hard, keep having self-respect and never forget WHO YOU ARE! Believe in you baby girl. 

-Big TP

Kennedy Taylor

Dear Younger K,

You don’t know this yet, but you are about to embark on an incredible journey that will change your life forever. There will be many ups; never downs, just lessons learned along the way.

In high school, you were in your comfort zone. You were valedictorian, a part of a stellar radio television program, treasurer of your class, four-time district MVP, three-time all-state, etc. With all the work you put in, you were blessed to commit to Texas State University. This journey will be different than you anticipated, but you are battle-tested and ready for any challenge that comes your way. 

During the first quarter of your year career, you will have to leave for school the day after your graduation. You will feel upset, stressed, fearful, and most importantly unprepared. Your friends and family are very close-knit so you’re afraid to see what life will be like without them around everyday. You will also be the only freshman on the team for the first part of summer workouts, with all upperclassmen. The team and coaches will be welcoming, but won’t know your struggles of feeling homesick, alone and still unprepared for your new journey. You do a good job of masking it. Remind yourself everyday not to be intimidated or fearful of the future, because you were chosen for a reason. My advice to you is to immediately build meaningful relationships and establish yourself by being authentic and pure, finding your own voice, working hard and learning from others. 

The second quarter will be your biggest battle of you vs. yourself. You will adjust quickly in balancing school, basketball and your social life. However, you won’t play as much as you were used to and you will be disappointed in that.  It will be hard to positively talk to yourself. It will be hard to fight the urge of losing confidence in yourself or finding yourself just going through the motions. Fortunately, you were raised as a fighter. You will abolish doubts and negative thinking. I will advise you to trust God’s timing, stay the course, put in the work and wait your turn. And your time came. You studied, listened, and worked diligently. You became the starting point guard a few games into conference, as a freshman. 

You will be comfortable coming in and coming out of halftime. Your college experience is becoming more routine and normal. 

At the start of the third quarter, COVID-19 will change normality. Your classes will become remote, social life will be minimal, workouts and games will be postponed/canceled, etc. Life will change drastically but I want you to challenge yourself mentally. It will be hard to stay hopeful and not worrisome. You don’t know it yet, but God is setting up your future. COVID-19 will be a blessing in disguise. You will get to spend extra time with your family and friends. You will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Most notably, you will also get the opportunity to play basketball for an extra year while finishing your master’s degree. 

You will have to make a big decision in the fourth quarter. Deciding if you want to play basketball for an extra year or start your adult life will have you contemplating. I am challenging you to lean on your relationships. Your family will be there every step of the way and will support any decision you make. Lean on your teammates. Those are some of the best friendships you have made. They will mean a lot to you because you all have grown together. The memories will be endless and you’ll remember them for life. Deciding to stay at Texas State will be easy for you because of the relationships you’ve built, you will graduate with your Master’s degree and you will run your final race to a championship with your girls. My advice is to take it all in, embrace every moment.

During overtime, you will reflect. You will be thankful to Texas State and your coaches for giving you an opportunity. You have lost and won many battles but you will use all of your experiences and learned lessons. You still will not have reached your full potential. You will leave Texas State with your Bachelor’s in journalism, Master’s in business administration, and as the all-time career assist leader in history. Regardless of the results, you will be proud of the journey and your work.  Cherish every moment at Texas State because they will be the best years of your life thus far. Your book is still being written but I’m proud of you Ken. 

Love you,

Older K