"I felt like I was finally around, my people."
— A PGC Grad Story —

By Rachel Emendorfer (PGC Grad)

All I ever wanted to do was be a college basketball coach.

I grew up watching my dad coach football, and saw the daily impact he made on the kid’s he coached.

Attending PGC gave me even more inspiration. Seeing how lessons of life and basketball go hand in hand.

As an athlete at PGC Basketball camps, I felt like I finally was around “my people.”

People who were passionate about the game, people who were enthusiastic to “think the game”, and most importantly people who understood that eventually the ball would stop bouncing; that it was important to teach young athletes how to use basketball lessons to make them successful human beings.

I was so enraptured with what PGC was doing I decided to be a basket instructor for them. I’ve worked for PGC the last five summers and every summer, I learn something new and am inspired to be a better person.

After finishing my basketball career, I realized being a coach was not what I wanted anymore. In reflection, a lot of the lessons learned from PGC are what propelled me to take the leap and try my hand at law school.

I remember being an athlete at the Grad School course, where Tyler Coston did a demonstration where he showed us the limits we subconsciously put on ourselves.

His message?

To think outside the box and never doubt yourself in trying something new. Saying that you become your best self outside your comfort zone.

After my senior season, I realized I had only ever thought I could help people through coaching. I didn’t realize the other opportunities I could take advantage of to help others.

I’m currently a law student at University of Minnesota and I have found that my experience at PGC has helped me be a better student and person.

To conquer obstacles that law school throws my way, I place quotes from PGC around my apartment and have my dream board (another take away from Grad School), hung in my bedroom. Doing this helps give me perspective of what my goals are, and reminds me of who I am committed to being everyday.

From the lessons PGC has taught me, I know I am a better leader, competitor, student, and person.