A Monmouth University student-athlete balances the pressure of being a division one athlete in addition to have a full course load of classes. Many collegiate athletes are showcased for their work on the field and not for their work in the classroom. For Danielle Axelrod, she has been able to shine off the field and discover her passion while competing for a conference title.
The senior midfielder/forward took a break from her studies and soccer to discuss her work off the field with The Outlook.
Originally hailing from LaGrangeville, NY, Danielle said she had one big motivator when it came to becoming a division one athlete.
“My inspiration comes from God. He’s my rock in everything I do and I would not be where I am today without his guidance and grace,” she said.
Danielle did not just have one motivator; she also found motivation in experienced soccer players.
“I grew up watching girls who were older than me play and I aspired to be just like them,” she continued. “In middle school I would go to high school games and look at the players like they were the professional players.”
As a three sport athlete in high school, Danielle found time to discover a desire for television. She said, “During my junior year of high school, I became interested in the new studio that my school had built. My math teacher at the time told me I should check it out and see what it was all about. The minute I stepped into the studio I fell in love.”
Upon entering Monmouth University, Danielle knew she wanted to be an anchor for Hawk TV, however, as a division one athlete, she has little time to spare.
Danielle begins her day with a 7:30 a.m. practice, followed by numerous classes. Once her classes are over, she makes her way to the Hawk TV studio to anchor the news and be a crew member for other shows. Once she is finished with her segment, she heads back to her house, does homework, and then finally gets to sleep. After she anchors the news she goes home does more homework and then is in bed.
“To others, it might seem like it’s pretty hard to balance schoolwork and a Division I sport. I think being part of the team has actually helped my GPA,” Danielle continued. “While basically every one else is out partying, I’m up getting my homework done and closing my eyes before 10 p.m. It’s a real awesome party. It’s definitely a lot of sacrifice, but my GPA has definitely benefited from it.”
It is obvious this method is working for Danielle as the women’s soccer team has a 4-0 start in conference play. She hopes to lead the Hawks to their second championship during her tenure at MU, but for her, this accomplishment would be just as eminent as hosting her own television show. “I’d love to be on air someday and hopefully have my own show. It would be awesome to be a mix of comedy while also helping people out,” she said.
With her real world experience interning on The Maury Show among other jobs, she made connections that will help her because executives can see her resume. “I can’t wait to see what my future has in store for me,” Danielle concluded.
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth Athletics
