Listen to the Letters to the Herd podcast with Sonja Radulovic and J.J. Duke

Dear Stags,
 
My name is Sonja Radulovic. I am the Senior Captain of Fairfield Volleyball, and this past weekend would have been my graduation. As heartbroken as I am about the abrupt end to my time at Fairfield, I have spent a lot of the last two months reflecting on the good, rather than the bitter.

Alone with my thoughts, I have traced all the way back to the day I decided on Fairfield as my future home, little knowing that I was making the best decision of my life. Three MAAC Titles and four years later, I cherish every single moment of my Fairfield ride. The past four years have shaped me into the person I am today, into a Stag.
 
To be a Stag is a combination of many things, often and best described by the Jesuit values and cultural commitments that circulate campus. But in layman's terms, it is a mindset. In my experience, to be a Stag means being the underdog, but using that to fuel you forward. It means pushing your body past its physical limits, even when your mind tells you to give up. Stags never give up. It means waking up every day ready to give your best, in both the gym and in the classroom. Stag is synonymous for relentless, driven, and disciplined, because that is what one requires to make history. Stags strive to make history, to break barriers. And it entails being humble, yet hungry – never settling in your success. Stag mentality is a concept that has taken me many years to learn and grow into.
 
I was fortunate enough to have many great role models take the court before me and help me find my way; I hope to be that same light for future Stags. Fairfield Athletics is the most loving, tight knit community I have ever been a part of. My coaches, teammates (now sisters), roommates, and classmates were all factors in my self-development; their endless support simply a proof that it truly does take a village. The connections I have made at Fairfield are irreplaceable, these friendships the root of all the memories I cherish most. After all, to be a Stag means to be part of the herd. Fairfield has brought so many special people into my life, strong bonds that are unshaken by the end of these four years.
 
If you are like me and this is the last of your Fairfield journey, remember you are always and forever a Stag. Trust that you are prepared for any path you decide to take, and that you will never walk it alone, because Stags are Built for Life. If this is just the start of your journey, enjoy every second, even when faced with what feel like the most overwhelming points. Embrace this; let yourself grow from it. Being a Stag is not easy. Being a Division I athlete is not easy – but it is worth it. The days are long, but the years are short. And believe me when I say I would do every day again if I could.

Thank you, Fairfield. For an experience that is so hard to articulate into words. For the challenge, and with that undoubtedly the reward. For the life lessons, both wanted and unwanted. For housing something that makes it so hard to walk away from. And for the best friends and the best years of my life. A little part of my heart will always live in Connecticut, because in my heart I know I will always be a Stag.

Sonja Radulovic '20