Molly Shae Watkins: Establishing Leadership in Life After

#1 How did you adjust to life outside of sports? Was this an easy process or did you encounter some road blocks?

I had an interesting transition for sure. I wasn’t able to play at all my senior year due to a back injury I dealt with my whole 4 years of college so the last year was already a little different. I was still able to do some working out and had to be at every practice/game but I wasn’t fully in it which was already a huge change. I ended up graduating a quarter early and had to get back surgery to fix the injury right after graduation and on top of that, my whole family (mom, dad, and sister) had moved to Arizona from my home state of Montana so once I was done with school I moved to a whole new state I had barely any knowledge of. I graduated in Business Administration with the hopes of attending Culinary school after college because that was my dream pretty much my whole life. I realized quickly after surgery and physical therapy that I didn’t know if Culinary school was something my back would be able to endure being on my feet in a kitchen 24/7. So I found myself in a new state with no idea what route to take professionally. I ended up getting a job at Lululemon since I knew it was a brand I loved being as athletic as I am and figured it would be an easy start. I am now currently working as an Inventory and Website Manager at a local apparel business and honestly still figuring out what route I really want to go on but learning a lot of new things along the way! It has definitely been a weird process adjusting and time has flown since college so sometimes it feels like I was just thrown into the real world with no life jacket but I have always found ways to stay afloat through connections I’ve made so far. Athletically adjusting has been interesting as well because I was used to being on a workout plan that was laid out to me everyday and now I am not even able to lift heavy like I used to due my surgery. Luckily I had a great physical therapist in Arizona and have been able to find joy in workouts that may not look exactly like what I was doing before but still make me feel great - like pilates and yoga, for example.

#2 What helped you adapt to life after college athletics? Was there a hobby or a lifestyle change that helped?

Adding on to what I said in question 1, not being able to workout like I used to was a big change. I lived in fear and still do to this day that if I’m not super careful with how I moved my body that I would injure myself again. Working at Lululemon I found connections through our ambassadors of local workout spaces and found love in yoga. It actually helps my back by building flexibility and even helped make some friends. I tried pilates as well for a while and liked it but yoga is awesome for my body and mind. I have been playing volleyball basically my whole life so I was always used to being active - the biggest adjustment after was the fact that I had to find the motivation to move my body myself while also balancing not beating myself up mentally if I don’t. I deal with anxiety so this may be a struggle I deal with my whole life but is something I will constantly be working on too. But overall my new friends and being with my family helped my adjustment a lot too! I haven’t picked up a ton of hobbies but that is something I have been trying to do lately to help with anxiety and get myself off my phone. I have never been a huge reader but I forced myself to get into reading within the last year and a half and have become obsessed. Some of my friends and I have even formed a small book club and on top of that I have a journal that I fill out after each book I finish to discuss my opinions about it and favorite quotes, etc. Also (like I mention in question 3), going to the movies with my friends may not seem like a hobby but it is something I can look forward to and that we discuss in detail about after which is a lot of fun to me. Also, my sister and I have gotten into legos which is an expensive hobby but is a lot of fun as well and they can be used as display after. I’ve tried to get into painting, only starting with paint by number, but I did like it and want to do more. My sister has always been the creative and artsy one in the family and I want to be able to enjoy those things like she does.

#3 How did you meet friends and a community outside of athletics?

Honestly this was one of the things I was most scared of because making friends as an adult is tough! But I am very grateful that my first job in Arizona was at Lululemon because I was able to make so many friends from there that I think will be friends for life now. Since it was a retail job, we had a lot of opportunities to connect and even “team sweats” where we went out into the community and did workout classes together. And then making those friends gave me the opportunity to make mutual friends from them and it’s kind of grown from there. And even the job I am at now, we are a pretty small team being a local business and I am lucky enough to say that I think I have lifelong friends here too. Me and some of my current coworkers have created a movie group because we all share a love for movies and we go to a new movie together at least a couple times a month.

#4 If you could go back and mentor yourself as you transitioned out of sports, what would be some pieces of advice that you would share with yourself?

I would tell myself to make sure to have a back-up plan just in case. I feel like I relied on my plan to go to Culinary school so when that wasn’t able to happen immediately, I felt very lost. I also would tell myself to get more involved in the events that went on at the business school to make connections. Even though I didn’t stay in Louisiana after college, I could’ve made connections that might’ve helped me transition a little smoother. I think if I felt a little more prepared going into the “real world” I could’ve felt a little more secure.

#5 Did you discover that you found other areas of life that you were successful in? What were those outlets?

I honestly feel like I am still trying to figure this out! I think being in athletics for sure helped me grow as a person and I was able to bring leadership skills into the post college life. It made me realize how much I love working in a team and together as a team towards one goal. I have also been able to establish myself as a leader in both companies I have worked at since college, moving up in positions quickly at both and both requiring leadership skills. I have also found in the role that I am in now that I value organization in my work and clear communication with my team so nothing is left undone. I am hoping as I find the right path I want to be on that I will find those areas of like that I am truly successful in.