From Small Town Dreams to Big City Courts

Freshman Eutectics Women’s Basketball player Alivia Simily is finding her home away from home at UHSP thanks to the support she’s received on campus. 

The journey from a small town to the big city is easier when your university has a small-town vibe and stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t seem so scary. 

Small Town to UHSP: Choosing Pharmacy 

Coming to UHSP from the small town of Bonne Terre, Missouri, located an hour south of St. Louis, Simily was drawn to the close-knit community at UHSP which made her feel at home. 

“I chose UHSP because I knew I wanted to be a pharmacist and it was so close to home,” Simily said. “Coming from a small town where everyone knows and cares for each other, I was comforted to feel that same vibe here.” 

Simily’s desire to become a pharmacist began in high school, driven by her aspiration to enter the medical field and provide personalized care to patients.  

“When I was younger, I spent a lot of time helping my grandma with her medications and providing her with medical care,” Simily explained. “Those experiences made me realize I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, and pharmacy seemed like the right path for me.” 

I chose UHSP because I knew I wanted to be a pharmacist and it was so close to home. Coming from a small town where everyone knows and cares for each other, I was comforted to feel that same vibe here.

A Balancing Act of Sports 

Simily started playing basketball at the age of five and has been running track since eighth grade. After receiving a scholarship to play both sports at UHSP, she is now a member of the Eutectics Women’s Basketball and Track and Field teams.  

“I enjoy playing both sports and couldn’t choose between them,” Simily explained. “Switching between them is fun and the training is different. At first I was concerned about managing sports and my schoolwork, but when I arrived at UHSP I discovered many others at the University also play multiple sports.” 

Simily says balancing the two sports, along with classes, is not always easy, but the support she receives from her teams makes things more manageable. 

“My teammates are my best friends, and I can always count on them for support no matter what,” Simily said. “Even when I’m tired after practice, my friends encourage me to push through and that helps me to manage my time wisely between academics and sports.”  

Navigating Independence

Simily says moving from a rural town to a big city was a significant change, but she takes pride in successfully managing the transition.

“Going from living with my family in a small town to living in St. Louis was a huge adjustment,” Simily recalled. “However, my parents gave me the tools I needed to navigate my new independence well. It’s also great to know that my family is just an hour away if I need them.”

Simily notes that new student orientation really made a lasting impact on her and made the transition from high school to college easier.

“I loved orientation week,” Simily noted. “It was a week of fun events before the start of classes, and I got to meet so many new people. After orientation week, I had a bunch of new friends who were also adjusting to living away from home and we bonded over our experiences.” 

For those hesitant about leaving home, Simily suggests visiting campus and attending orientation or other programs to meet new people who are also adjusting to the transition to college. 

“Go to all the events that you can before you get on-campus to meet people,” Simily said. “Everyone is going through the same thing, so don’t be nervous to talk to someone you don’t know because they are probably feeling the same way.” 

Go to all the events that you can before you get on-campus to meet people. Everyone is going through the same thing, so don’t be nervous to talk to someone you don’t know because they are probably feeling the same way.

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