This is day one of a 20 day series. Each day one of our players or coaches will share some personal reflection. This is a chance to get to know us on a deeper level and to understand a little about our team and what being a member of Washburn University Softball is all about.


April 22, 2020

Who is Bri Francis?
Hi, my name is Bri Francis, a catcher on the Washburn Softball team. I’m currently on the “fast-track” program, where I’m working on my bachelor’s and master’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology. My future plan is to graduate with both degrees by spring of 2021 and pursue a career as a correctional counselor for juveniles. This career sparked my interest because I’ve always had a passion for helping people—especially kids, since I am the oldest in my family and I have five younger sisters.

Life Changes
Being a student-athlete, I am constantly on the go. Whether it’s to weights, practice, or study sessions, sitting still is not something you’d often find me doing. In fact, class may be the only time you would find me sitting still for 50 minutes at a time. Due to COVID-19 I’ve had to adjust from having a jam-packed schedule, to having no schedule at all. I now keep myself busy by studying, doing yard work, and working out in the at-home gym I made in my garage. I never thought that push mowing the yard would be the highlight of my day! One new hobby I’ve taken up is cooking recipes I find on Pinterest—which is definitely a trial and error.

Personal Reflection
Throughout the course of this pandemic, I’ve reflected a lot about my personal life and life in general. What I realized the most was how much I take for granted every day. Before the pandemic, I really thought that I was living life to the fullest and without regrets. I’m staying positive through these challenging times by staying connected with my loved ones and setting goals for myself to fulfill. I miss my family, my teammates, and my friends, but I especially miss the simple things in life. I long for the sound of the bat hitting the ball, waving hello to the hall-walkers in Lee Arena, and giving our custodian, Frank, a fist-bump every day. What gets me through this quarantine is knowing that those moments will happen again, and those moments will be cherished differently.

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