Royster is a former Division I basketball player at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her experience as a student-athlete helped her connect with the Terps and understand the emotional stress of being one.
“I know exactly what they’re going through,” Royster said. “I was the one navigating class, practices and personal life. Being a student-athlete is so stressful, and not talking about your emotions or addressing them is crazy.”
According to the American Psychiatric Association, art therapy can reduce conflicts and distress, improve cognitive functions, foster self-esteem, and build emotional resilience and social skills.
Royster uses art to challenge athletes mentally. She says many athletes understand how to navigate physical challenges, but most people struggle to open up about how they feel. She believes art is an outlet and helps give meaning to feelings that words can’t describe.
The Gossett Fellows group was given a canvas divided into thirds by two pieces of tape. They were asked to start by painting a picture of the present. Royster asked the athletes to remind themselves of their purpose and connect with their emotions.
“Because of school and sports, it’s often hard to think about what’s going on, and sometimes we go through the motions,” Kennedy Bell, a junior on the women’s soccer team, said. “This helped me set myself up for the future.”
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