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What was your mindset going into college sports? How did it change over your 4 years as you grew in your relationship with God? 

Emma: My mindset coming into college was completely wonky. My identity as a person was in how good I thought I was as a lacrosse player. But God really used lacrosse powerfully- through riding the bench throughout my career, to change my heart and shift where my identity was, out of my performance and accolades, and into Christ. My playing time didn’t ever really pan out the way I wanted it do, but I learned some incredibly valuable lessons: what perseverance and endurance looked like, how to have joy despite my circumstances, what success really was, and how to work my very hardest solely for God’s glory even when that wasn’t being recognized by others. 

Mayowa: My mindset coming into college was to just be competitive. I was very excited to get to play at the next level and really see what I was made of. And honestly, I don’t think my mindset changed over the four years. I think there was just a pivot of perspective that I felt like the way to honor God through sport was to continue try and tap into untouched potential and to keep trying to grow. I felt like God blessed me with athletic talents, and my way to be fruitful with them was to just keep working hard and keep trying to improve. 

How do you live for God on the field? What does that look like? What was the development of that?  

Emma: One of my breakthrough moments came at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle. We had Riley Tanner, professional women’s soccer player, speaking that night. I had been wrestling with how to glorify God on the field and what that looked like. I asked her, What do you think about on the field? How are you taking ‘every thought captive’ as you play?” Her answer changed everything. She said something like, “When I am on the field, I honestly don’t think about anything. I know that I’ve put in probably thousands hours, so the muscle memory is there. I just play. I clear my mind. My way to glorify God on the field is to go 1000% whenever I play, whether I succeed or fail- to give my body as a living sacrifice.” That was hugely impactful for me because it instantly reframed what success was for me. Success was no longer dependent on how many goals I scored or how much time I played- the outcome, instead it was dependent on my effort and mindset- the process. I could give everything I had in a game or practice and I could cheer my head off on the sideline.  

Mayowa: I think one of the ways that I lived for God on the court was to have sportsmanship. I think that when you start playing high-level sports you’re taught to “kill your competition”, etc. I felt like that never resonated with me. I enjoyed myself the most when my competitor was also playing very well and we could challenge each other in that way. And then I learned at an FCA huddle that the word compete literally means to strive together, and I think that’s when it all clicked for me. I think sometimes there’s a misconception that you can’t glorify God and also be highly competitive. But it’s as simple as helping somebody up after they fall while also trying to win, I think both can still exist. I think that’s how I lived for God on the court. 

How do you balance living for God in and off the field?  

Emma: Two parts to this question. First, when I first got to college, I set boundaries for activities I was going to participate in and those I was not (with my teammates). That helped me to still have fun, but to stay true to who I was and the kind of example I wanted to set as a Christian for my teammates. Second, in the sense of 1 Cor. 10:31, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”, in my experience, living for God on the field has been easier to do because practice was a specific 3 hours when all I had focus on was doing my very best to glorify God. It was much easier to compartmentalize, to stay disciplined, and keep those negative or unhelpful thoughts away. In real life, post college, and at work, like Mayowa said, it’s still something I’m very much still working on. I don’t have a certain amount of hours solely dedicated to one thing. I don’t have to be up at 6am to get to practice. Things look different, I work a 9-5, so it’s been an adjustment of figuring out to translate that into normal life. 

Mayowa: I think this is something I am still work on this day. Sometimes it’s hard to realize just how much time I dedicated to sports versus my faith. I think it has to be a very intentional practice of setting aside time to spend time with God and it’s gonna look different for everyone, but I think that’s the best way to balance living for God on and off the court. I think it also becomes easier once you surround yourself with like-minded people. So I loved my time in FCA as a student athlete. I think making sure I was going to weekly huddles really helped me balance living for God on and off the court. 

What was it liking going from a Rockbridge environment to George Washington University?  

Mayowa: I mean, Rockbridge and GW are vastly different, but I was very excited for it. I think a lot of our time at Rockbridge is spent learning how to have discussions, and coming to GW I was excited to put that to the test, especially with people that had different world views with me. I was also excited to be a student athlete and be surrounded by other young adults that were driven to play at a high level. I think at first after the initial excitement of a new environment, it it felt a little out of place till I found my people, but that’s typically how it goes anyways.  

Emma: Yeah, it was definitely different. I was excited to get there, make friends and play lacrosse. I walked into college with the normal uncertainties and fears of what my life would look like, who my friends would be, and all those normal doubts. But, on the flip side, I also walked in with a strong biblical foundation which proved very helpful. More than that though, I got to college confident in my faith, my values, and in my ability to think critically, lead, and work hard, which was invaluable.  

Looking back, what was the biggest lesson you learned playing college sports that you apply now?  

Mayowa: I think the biggest lesson that I learned playing college sports that I still apply now and honestly, I think is just a general life lesson, is that you have to find ways to keep going and you have to keep showing up for yourself and for others around you.  

Emma: I’m not perfect at this still, but the absolute biggest lesson I learned through playing college sports is that God is the only thing that can satisfy and fill that hole in your heart. Make sure your identity is in Christ, because in Christ, there is stability, and there is joy that is not dependent on circumstances. No amount of playing time will ever be enough, no job, title, or whatever will be enough. Only God! 

What would you tell a Christian Athletes looking to play sports in college?

Mayowa: I would tell them that it is the experience of a lifetime. It comes with extreme highs and extreme lows, but there’s truly nothing like it. I would tell them to try to find an FCA huddle or an in Intervarsity group. I think my FCA huddle really enriched my time as a Christian athlete at and it has blessed me with friends and mentors that I still have in my life after graduation.  

Emma: I would tell them to find a sustainable definition of success. As much I absolutely loved playing lacrosse in college and wouldn’t change anything, there were highs and lows. You will inevitably face disappointment. On the flip side, there will be incredible moments. If your success and joy is defined by the outcome of those moments, you will be riding an emotional roller coaster. One day you’ll be riding high, the next you’ll be miserable. Remind yourself that you are already successful because you are loved unconditionally by God. You’ve already won. Carry that confidence and freedom with you and you’ll play light as feather.  

Mayowa Taiwo graduated from Rockbridge Academy in 2018, and studied Civil and Environmental engineering at George Washington University in DC. Here, Mayowa expanded her athletic career from Rockbridge Academy's Basketball team to George Washington's D1 Basketball team, carrying her passion over as a student athlete. She graduated with a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2023 and completed her masters in Engineering Management a year later at her Alma Mater. Mayowa has been working as a Project Engineer in DC and Northern Virginia in the construction industry (Moriarity and Associates) since September of last year.

Emma McLaughlin graduated from Rockbridge Academy in 2021. She also studied at George Washington University, majoring in Political Science while also pursuing competitive athletics. As a student athlete, Emma was able to build onto her career in college, translating her love of Lacrosse from Rockbridge Academy's team to George Washington's D1 team. She graduated in 2025 with a Degree in Political Science and with Minors in International Affairs and Human Services. Starting in November of last year, Emma has been working as the Staff Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives for the House Judiciary Committee.