International Student Athlete Leads CAl U women Golfers
By Lauren Griffith
Carla Maestre, a junior on the Women's golf team at California University of Pennsylvania, researched over 40 different universities after graduating from high school in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. After learning about all Cal U had to offer, she decided to leave her home country to attend college in Western Pennsylvania.
However, the decision to chase her dreams abroad didn't come without struggles. Within her first few weeks on campus, Maestre, who studies both business administration and public relations at Cal U, realized the many hardships that come with attending a university overseas.
“The hardest part about being an international student is not having your family and friends around, and all the commodities you know you will have if you were in your own country like a car, currency, and exchange,” Maestre said.
Aside from adjusting to the life in the United States, Maestre also had to adjust to all the pressures of being a student athlete.
“I was nervous because it is a big shock to move in by yourself, having to start from zero,” Maestre said. “And being part of an athletic team, you have to perform at a specific level.”
However, it wasn’t long before she realized Cal U was the place for her. By getting involved in campus groups like the university's International Club, Maestre has made friends who have helped her adjust to life on campus. One such friend is Nicholas Eritz.
Eritz and Maestre met their freshmen year, when they both were living in Johnson Hall. They have known each other for a little over two years, and their relationship has grown out of that friendship.
“Carla is fun to be around, always willing to help, and not worried to tell you how she feels about someone,” Eritz said.
Eritz agrees that while it was an adjustment at first, Maestre has come to enjoy all that Cal U has to offer.
“I think that it was a tough choice to make for her, but she ended up liking her choice to come here, and I'm very happy that she decided to come here,” Eritz said.
Her women's golf teammates are another important part of Maestre’s life. The team, which is comprised of Maestre and six other international students, all share similar life experiences. They have also provided the type of supportive environment that has allowed Maestre to thrive on the golf course.
At the Pennsylvania State Athletic Championships in October 2014, she finished in first place. Also, she currently shoots an average round score of 78.5, the lowest mark on the team.
Teammate Mercedes Epondulan , who has been friends with Maestre for three years, said the star golfer’s demeanor both on and off the course has been beneficial to the team’s success.
“Carla has a very interesting personality,” Epondulan said. “She is always positive on the course, which motivates other players to think positively, regardless of how they are playing. When she is off the course, she's this person who is always happy and hyper all the time and always makes you smile when you are down. She fits right in with the team. She is our No. 1 player and she has been a huge help on the team.”
Since enrolling at Cal U, Maestre has only been able to travel home twice. On average, a trip to Venezula costs anywhere from $1,300-$2,400, a cost Maestre said is too high to pay consistently. Cost has also prohibited Maestre’s parents from being able to visit Cal U over the past three years. Maestre hopes that changes when it comes time for her to graduate.
“Hopefully, they will come for graduation -- it all depends on how the politics and economy of my country will be moving next year,” Maestre said.
Now that Maestre has found so much success academically and athletically while at Cal U, she doesn’t plan on returning to Venezuela after graduation. Instead, she hopes to use her skills and personality and become a businesswoman in America.
“I would like to work in an American company and help grow it,” Maestre said.
Lauren Griffith is a senior majoring in Journalism at California University of Pennsylvania. To read more of Lauren's work, go to calunewsreport.weebly.com
However, the decision to chase her dreams abroad didn't come without struggles. Within her first few weeks on campus, Maestre, who studies both business administration and public relations at Cal U, realized the many hardships that come with attending a university overseas.
“The hardest part about being an international student is not having your family and friends around, and all the commodities you know you will have if you were in your own country like a car, currency, and exchange,” Maestre said.
Aside from adjusting to the life in the United States, Maestre also had to adjust to all the pressures of being a student athlete.
“I was nervous because it is a big shock to move in by yourself, having to start from zero,” Maestre said. “And being part of an athletic team, you have to perform at a specific level.”
However, it wasn’t long before she realized Cal U was the place for her. By getting involved in campus groups like the university's International Club, Maestre has made friends who have helped her adjust to life on campus. One such friend is Nicholas Eritz.
Eritz and Maestre met their freshmen year, when they both were living in Johnson Hall. They have known each other for a little over two years, and their relationship has grown out of that friendship.
“Carla is fun to be around, always willing to help, and not worried to tell you how she feels about someone,” Eritz said.
Eritz agrees that while it was an adjustment at first, Maestre has come to enjoy all that Cal U has to offer.
“I think that it was a tough choice to make for her, but she ended up liking her choice to come here, and I'm very happy that she decided to come here,” Eritz said.
Her women's golf teammates are another important part of Maestre’s life. The team, which is comprised of Maestre and six other international students, all share similar life experiences. They have also provided the type of supportive environment that has allowed Maestre to thrive on the golf course.
At the Pennsylvania State Athletic Championships in October 2014, she finished in first place. Also, she currently shoots an average round score of 78.5, the lowest mark on the team.
Teammate Mercedes Epondulan , who has been friends with Maestre for three years, said the star golfer’s demeanor both on and off the course has been beneficial to the team’s success.
“Carla has a very interesting personality,” Epondulan said. “She is always positive on the course, which motivates other players to think positively, regardless of how they are playing. When she is off the course, she's this person who is always happy and hyper all the time and always makes you smile when you are down. She fits right in with the team. She is our No. 1 player and she has been a huge help on the team.”
Since enrolling at Cal U, Maestre has only been able to travel home twice. On average, a trip to Venezula costs anywhere from $1,300-$2,400, a cost Maestre said is too high to pay consistently. Cost has also prohibited Maestre’s parents from being able to visit Cal U over the past three years. Maestre hopes that changes when it comes time for her to graduate.
“Hopefully, they will come for graduation -- it all depends on how the politics and economy of my country will be moving next year,” Maestre said.
Now that Maestre has found so much success academically and athletically while at Cal U, she doesn’t plan on returning to Venezuela after graduation. Instead, she hopes to use her skills and personality and become a businesswoman in America.
“I would like to work in an American company and help grow it,” Maestre said.
Lauren Griffith is a senior majoring in Journalism at California University of Pennsylvania. To read more of Lauren's work, go to calunewsreport.weebly.com