Josie Mundell

Hi! I’m Josie Mundell, and I’m from Louisville, Kentucky. I am starting my second year at Furman, and my third year in college. I transferred from Central Michigan University to find a space that I would thrive in, both in the classroom and on the field; I am so excited to be a part of Furman’s women’s lacrosse team. I have declared Sociology as my first major and I am considering Business/Economics or Psychology as my second. I am interested in big questions and although I still don't quite know what I want to do, I know that I want to live a life that is meaningful and connected.

    Right now, I feel like I'm standing at crossroads between two very different futures. One possible future seems more practical—something like law or business, where I can make a decent living, support my family, and travel. The other possible future is more passion driven—advocacy, or academia, or something creative and exciting, that serves a purpose, or at least it feels like a purpose, even if the money isn't guaranteed. I know it is possible to do what you are passionate about and still make money—but it takes time and work, and sometimes the fear of uncertainty makes me anxious. I go back and forth all the time. Do I go for stability or meaning? Do I take the road that feels safer, or the road that feels more alive? I worry I will wake up one day and realize that I played it too safe. But I also fear that I will struggle so much that I lose the joy that I was chasing in the first place.

    That's part of the reason I picked this MayX. I'm hoping to gain some clarity by stepping outside of my habits and into a country with as much history, beauty, and culture as Greece. Greece has always been on my bucket list.  However, what I'm looking forward to doing most is slowing down, reflecting, and maybe having some meaningful conversations that help clarify the chaos in my brain. I've gone through many changes in the past few years and I want to use that experience for something good - something that helps me move forward and grow. 

For our cup activity, I am still brainstorming but have a couple ideas so far:

Lacrosse ball – My relationship with lacrosse has changed in different ways over the years, especially with time and different teams. I've faced many obstacles—physically, mentally, and emotionally—but the sport has been a key part of who I am.

Four leaf clover- I found it ten minutes before I tore my ACL. Even though it was cruel cosmic irony, I held onto the belief that it would somehow, eventually, bring me good luck, just not in a way that I expected. Now, it reminds me that the hardest moments can sometimes be setting you up for something better.