About

"Who am I without my sport?"

In her senior year of high school, co-founder Shaylee Ungos experienced a season-ending ankle injury. To many people, that might sound like no big deal. But to her, it triggered an identity crisis, depressive episodes, and fear for the future. She was in her last year of high school and still wasn't hearing back from college coaches. It felt like losing this last season meant losing her chance to pursue her dreams of being a collegiate athlete.

Meet Shaylee

That ankle injury certainly wasn't the last, nor was it the biggest obstacle that she's had to face as a student-athlete, but it was the beginning of her passion for mental health advocacy. Shaylee is now a NCAA DII volleyball player at Menlo College and shares her journey as an athlete and a college student through social media. 

Creating "Smile at the Little Things"

Throughout recovery, Shaylee called on psychology principles that she learned in school, which led to the creation of her motto, "smile at the little things." It wasn't about dismissing negative emotions or invalidating her fears, but rather, it was a reminder to notice the beauty in everyday life. It allowed her to notice the family and friends who rallied around her, the delicious meals that comforted her, and the joy of walking around her small town once she was physically healed.

Meet Madeline

Co-founder Madeline McMahon is a student-athlete and model, also figuring out how to balance college life, mental health, and personal growth. As a swimmer, she learned the importance of discipline and resilience, but she also knows how overwhelming it can be to juggle school, sports, and mental health.

Balance and Confidence

Modeling has made Madeline even more aware of the pressures surrounding body image and food. Because of that, she's had to work on building a healthier mindset around both, especially as someone who has an athletic build in an industry that prioritizes being thin. Madeline knows she's not alone in this, which is why she wants to share her journey: embracing her confident self, balancing all aspects of life, and learning how to grow without burning out!