Where I’m from in Baltimore, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad area, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best. Being black, there’s a lot of racial things that go along with that. My mom tried to push us more into sports so we wouldn’t branch into things like that or be stereotyped.

When I was younger, I did play in a summer league, and it was a struggle for me. They wouldn’t pass me the ball. They wouldn’t talk to me. They kind of pushed me outside the crease. I really wanted to quit. My mom wouldn’t let me. 

[In college,] playing a certain team, they did say racial things to my teammates about me. It upset my teammates more than it upset me. I don’t want to say I’m used to it, but my mom taught me not to pay attention to what other people think.

On Instagram, I get DMs asking me what I did to get to this level. They usually come from African-American girls. If they see more of us coming together and see how a lot of us are succeeding in the sport, then they’re like, “OK, maybe I can be successful too.”

I feel as though people see me playing well in this position, and a lot of them play the same position as me, so they feel they can come to me. I’m willing to provide the answers they need to motivate them to keep pushing.

I do think the racism that’s going on in the world is just another reason to bring us closer together. It’s another reason to say I don’t care what color your skin is, what gender or race you are, whatever you want to call yourself — do what makes you happy.

If lacrosse makes you happy, then just do it.