Cassidy, the girl that never lost her smile

Cassidy with her old school Hartford University

Cassidy, a sophomore basketball player at the University of Tampa, transferred from Hartford University, a DI program in the American East Conference (AEC). 

Cassidy's childhood was not easy, but her positivism and her smile never disappeared. This 19-year-old girl is an example of behaviour, and example of what means to be a true friend, and an example maturity. You cannot miss her Q&A interview!

ATHLETES ARE US: How were your childhood and the relation with your family?

CASSIDY BUNDY: Some people would consider my childhood to be really hard – My mother was a drug addict and my father was a drug dealer. But, my family loved it so it made seem okay. We always loved each other. I’m the youngest of five and all of my brothers and sisters made it their duty to make sure I was taken care off even if my parents couldn’t take care of us. And when my parents weren’t around my grandmother who battled breast cancer my whole did what she had to do to make sure we were all okay.

A: What are the best moments that you remember from it? What about the worst moments?

C: My best moments would be with my dad. I love him so much. When I was 5 he and my mom got divorced but for a while we all still lived with him and it seems like every time I saw his face my heart would go calm. He was always so comforting. The worst moment was when my dad was on the verge of getting arrested again so we had to move in with our mom. I’m a big daddies girl and didn’t him to have to leave. And I knew living with my mom would be so different because she was the bad cop and my dad was the good cop. And when we moved in with her at times it was awful – I wouldn’t see her for a few days because she would be high in her room. It wasn’t always bad with my mom because she did take care of us and love us whole-heartedly, but some of my worst times came when I was living under her roof.

A: Who was your mentor/hero/example that helped you grow as a person?

C: My sister Symone, she’s 4 years older than me, we’re the closest in age. She taught me how to be light, happy, positive. She worked hard with everything. She was such a hard worker from such a young agae, I remember her bringing me with her while she walked 5 neighborhood dogs by herself and the age of ten or going door to door collecting canned goods for charity around the city in sixth grade. She should me how to be a genuine good person. She still,  to this day, is my hero. I appreciate everything she does.

A: How did you overcome the difficulties and how did you learn from them?

C: I overcame my difficulties by remaining positive. It wasn’t by myself; my family helped me a lot. They always kept my head up above water when I was about to drown. I learned that I could do that too; I can help those who are drowning with the strength I’ve acquired through my experience.

A: What is the best compliment that someone gave you? And the worse one?

B: The best compliment I’ve received actually came in the form of a question – “Why are you so nice? Like genuinely nice?” I like that people see that I’m a good person because that’s what I am at the core, and not for any other reason. The worst compliment I’ve gotten is “You’re pretty for a tall girl” My height has nothing to do with my beauty, I think its such a shallow thing to say. Which is why I started a website, www.talllgirlworld.com, with my sister to bring tall women around the world together for empowerment!

A: When did you start to play basketball?

C: I started playing when I was about eleven years old. It’s funny the first time I tried out for a team, it was my uncle’s team and I didn’t even make it!!

A: Did you play any other sports until you decide to dedicate your life to basketball?   

C: No.

A: What are the difficulties you have to overcome?

C: The biggest difficulty I face right now is the guilt I live with knowing I moved away from home and left my family in Connecticut and my father is in prison in New York. It’s hard for me to think about not being able to get on the train and visit my father. I hate it. I feel an internal conflict because I know I need to be in school right now, but I have to sacrifice my family.

A: What is your best memory playing basketball? What about the worst memory?

C: It’s hard to name just one good memory. Collectively though, I would say that spending time with my teammates creates the greatest memories. I spend a lot of time with these girls everyday; we left our family’s to play ball and we formed a new family with each other. We hang a lot and just joke laugh and cry but I love those simply things – I appreciate those times.

A: What is the best part about being a college athlete? And the worst?

C: The best part is being able to play ball and get paid for it through tuition. I probably wouldn’t have made it to college if I weren’t an athlete. The worst part is missing out in class. We travel a lot and sometimes that sets me back in the classroom.

        

A: Where would you like to be in the future?

C: I often times have a hard time looking into the future. So many things have shifted in the past few years and my life has taken a whole new direction and I’m sure it will continue to do that. However, I do know that I will be happy. And I will make other people happy. Learning from my past I’ve realized that, too me, negative energy is obsolete, unnecessary.  I want to generate positivity, love and happiness in myself so I can project it out to those who need it. That’s all I know about the future.