Communication is not always easy. In fact, there are many people in the world who have disorders that make communication difficult. Luckily, people like Shelby Kosmecki major in communications disorders to help ease those individuals’ difficulties.

Kosmecki, senior from Somerset, Ky., is not just another Murray State student in search of a degree, though. She has also been a member of the softball team since its foundation four years ago.

Her roots in softball date back as long as her education. Kosmecki said her family has supported her the whole way, as they would drive to Indianapolis, Ind., three weekends a month to take her to pitching and hitting lessons.

“They were going to do whatever it took for me to be great,” Kosmecki said. “They want the best for me. They really instilled skills in me that helped me to get to where I am today.”

While in high school, Kosmecki played travel softball during the summers to face even better competition.

Those summer leagues helped her find a home at Murray State. A big factor in her choice to come to Murray State was helping start the softball program.

“It was awesome to be a part of,” Kosmecki said. “We feel like we started something because we’ve done well, so we feel like we’ve made a good starting ground and laid a foundation for something that’s going to become great.”

It has not always been easy, though. She said being a student-athlete is often difficult. Kosmecki said the spring semester of her freshmen year was the hardest semester for her.

She said it was hard to balance the transitions into college life with the first softball season, especially when games were played on the road.

“I feel like having to juggle academics and athletics at the same time is just so hard,” she said. “It’s so much harder than just being a student. You have so many more pressures on you.”

Kosmecki said she has dealt well with those pressures and considers herself successful both in her sport and academically. Her educational successes are not done yet, though.

Kosmecki has been accepted to the graduate program for communication disorders at Murray State.

This program typically only accepts 20 students from a pool of more than 100 applications.

She said she thinks softball helped strengthen her application.

“I feel like being an athlete and being a student at the same time really helped set me apart,” she said. “It made me different. I feel like I’m ready to go on and get my master’s. I’m set up for that, and I’m going to be able to handle the pressures of that.”

Kosmecki already has plans beyond graduate school. After seeing a presentation on a woman with dementia, she said she knew she wanted to work in a nursing home as a speech pathologist.

“You’re obviously not going to help them get better because dementia is a degenerative disease,” Kosmecki said. “But you can help make life functional for them. You can find what they like and make them happy while they can be happy. I think that’s awesome.”

Her degree will give her many options, but Kosmecki already knows the career she wants to pursue.

She wants to specialize in neurogenic communication disorders for people who have suffered from strokes or major brain injuries.

Eventually, she wants to become a rehabilitation coordinator.

“It’s an evolving field, so it’s not like I’m going to be doing the same thing every day,” Kosmecki said. “I’m going to be able to continue my education and just grow and learn a lot more throughout my life, and that’s what I wanted.”

She said softball and her education have both proven valuable, and these two aspects of her life have worked seamlessly together to help her prepare for a future she will love.

Through softball, Kosmecki has learned time management, professionalism, dedication and the importance of teamwork in the process of making lifelong friendships.

As she has taken her classes, Kosmecki has developed relationships with instructors who have worked in the field she plans to enter, allowing her to learn and find mentors.

She said this will help her in the transition from college to the real world.

With the end of her softball career drawing near, Kosmecki said she is too competitive to give up softball for good.

She has made a deal to throw batting practice next year, as well as attend as many games as possible.

When she reflects on her time at Murray State, Kosmecki has a hard time choosing whether she values softball or her education more because both have taught her so much and made her the person she is today.

No matter what, though, she said she feels she has been successful in every aspect, not just athletics.

“My career is going to last me forever, but I wouldn’t trade softball for anything,” Kosmecki said. “It’s a love that you can’t explain. I definitely value my education. I want to have a good career, and I feel like I’ve set myself up the best I can for that.”

Story by Ryan Richardson, Sports Editor.