Freshman Feature: Alissa Stewart
August 25, 2019 | Soccer
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE – Somewhere on the shores of a lake in Ontario, Alissa Stewart lay down on a dock and looked up to see nothing but stars.
She could leave her phone behind. Out here, three hours away from her Burlington, Ontario, home there was very little cell service anyway. The house behind her didn't even have a television.
And everything was exactly how she wanted it.
"For me, that's how I relax," Stewart said. "Anytime I'm near water I'm either having fun or relaxing somehow. I love just chilling on a hammock over the lake. That's my favorite place."
The Stewart family typically spends about two weeks of their summer disconnected from the rest of the world at the lake house. Stewart appreciates the chance to unplug. Social media fades away as the waves of the lake roll closer with every mile of the drive.
She spends her time cliff jumping, tubing, tanning and – her newest hobby – wakeboarding. She picked up the rope two years ago after being taught by a neighboring wakeboard instructor.
Stewart would bring her teammates to the lake as well, occasionally having to make the three-hour trek back to town for a practice or game before returning to her haven.
Outside of their two-week sabbatical, Stewart and her family live in Burlington, a suburb of Toronto. Despite being on the outskirts of Canada's most-populous metropolitan area, her love of small towns was part of what drew her to Starkville.
"I love the country feel," Stewart said. "That's why I love it here so much. I just love the lifestyle. Everything moves at such a much slower pace here. Everyone is very chill and relaxed. It is a very nice change actually."
To help her adjust, she and her roommate, Madison Rust, who is from California, have listened to nearly nothing but country music and found themselves venturing into the outdoors to get away. The pair went mudding a few weeks ago, a new experience for both of them.
"I feel like stuff they do here for fun is a lot different then back home," she said. "I was shocked we were allowed to do this. It is a little bit of a culture shock at first but I feel like I am adapting pretty well."
Her latest new experience included starting in the Bulldogs' first exhibition match this fall. She admits she was surprised to see her name listed on the starting lineup in State's pregame meeting, but enjoyed the moment even as she learned some tough lessons.
"I know it was just an exhibition game, but when you work so hard your whole life that, even it being an exhibition game, it still meant something," Stewart said. "That's what made it so nerve-wracking because I have been working so hard for that moment, and obviously, you want to prove yourself."
Following another day of preseason practices, Rust looked up the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge online. After a stressful week, she and Stewart drove to the park that night where they sat down on a bench not much different from the dock Stewart stargazes on up north. Watching the Mississippi sunset put Stewart back in her favorite place – on the water.
"That has been the most relaxed I have been since I have been here," Stewart said. "It is a lot different, but it's not so much different where I feel like I do not fit in. I feel like I have adapted to life here more. Now it is going to be weird going back home because I feel so country and at home out here."
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
STARKVILLE – Somewhere on the shores of a lake in Ontario, Alissa Stewart lay down on a dock and looked up to see nothing but stars.
She could leave her phone behind. Out here, three hours away from her Burlington, Ontario, home there was very little cell service anyway. The house behind her didn't even have a television.
And everything was exactly how she wanted it.
"For me, that's how I relax," Stewart said. "Anytime I'm near water I'm either having fun or relaxing somehow. I love just chilling on a hammock over the lake. That's my favorite place."
The Stewart family typically spends about two weeks of their summer disconnected from the rest of the world at the lake house. Stewart appreciates the chance to unplug. Social media fades away as the waves of the lake roll closer with every mile of the drive.
She spends her time cliff jumping, tubing, tanning and – her newest hobby – wakeboarding. She picked up the rope two years ago after being taught by a neighboring wakeboard instructor.
Stewart would bring her teammates to the lake as well, occasionally having to make the three-hour trek back to town for a practice or game before returning to her haven.
Outside of their two-week sabbatical, Stewart and her family live in Burlington, a suburb of Toronto. Despite being on the outskirts of Canada's most-populous metropolitan area, her love of small towns was part of what drew her to Starkville.
"I love the country feel," Stewart said. "That's why I love it here so much. I just love the lifestyle. Everything moves at such a much slower pace here. Everyone is very chill and relaxed. It is a very nice change actually."
To help her adjust, she and her roommate, Madison Rust, who is from California, have listened to nearly nothing but country music and found themselves venturing into the outdoors to get away. The pair went mudding a few weeks ago, a new experience for both of them.
"I feel like stuff they do here for fun is a lot different then back home," she said. "I was shocked we were allowed to do this. It is a little bit of a culture shock at first but I feel like I am adapting pretty well."
Her latest new experience included starting in the Bulldogs' first exhibition match this fall. She admits she was surprised to see her name listed on the starting lineup in State's pregame meeting, but enjoyed the moment even as she learned some tough lessons.
"I know it was just an exhibition game, but when you work so hard your whole life that, even it being an exhibition game, it still meant something," Stewart said. "That's what made it so nerve-wracking because I have been working so hard for that moment, and obviously, you want to prove yourself."
Following another day of preseason practices, Rust looked up the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge online. After a stressful week, she and Stewart drove to the park that night where they sat down on a bench not much different from the dock Stewart stargazes on up north. Watching the Mississippi sunset put Stewart back in her favorite place – on the water.
"That has been the most relaxed I have been since I have been here," Stewart said. "It is a lot different, but it's not so much different where I feel like I do not fit in. I feel like I have adapted to life here more. Now it is going to be weird going back home because I feel so country and at home out here."
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
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