AE Voices is space for America East Conference student-athletes, coaches and administrators to share their personal stories in their own words. This feature is sponsored by America East's #BetterTo9ether initiative, which aims to help create more mentally healthy environments for AE student-athletes
 
Unconditional Love
By: Colleen Mullen, UAlbany
 
I've always wanted to be mom. In 2015, I got a call from my doctor saying we were going to be having a baby girl. Our lives changed instantly the day Maggie came into the world.  Then two years later came more life-changing news…TWINS!
 
In June of 2017, our beautiful fraternal twin boys were born and our hearts exploded exponentially! Boy(s), we were in for a treat! We had double strollers, double carriers, double the diapers, double everything! Twins plus a 2-year-old required our very best "zone defense." 
 
Continue reading Coach Mullen's story at AE Voices
 
My Journey with Autism
By: Taniya Hanner, UAlbany
 
In the summer of 2005 when I was five years old, I visited my family in Atlanta and my life as I knew it changed forever. Nothing traumatic or overly exciting. It was just my extended family, who for the first time spent individual time with me, realized my normal was just a little different from other five year olds.
 
During my two-week visit, I attended a summer camp at a local church. There were a lot of children my age. However, I preferred to play alone. During car rides and mundane moments at home I noticed being intrigued by numbers, especially everyone's birthday. I made facial movements as a habit that I couldn't really control. I was comforted and delighted by the same routine each day after camp. I would get home take a bath, eat and prepare to watch the same movie for 14 days straight. I shook my fingers constantly in a way that was normal for me but appeared to be peculiar to my family. I think I enjoyed being away, however, I expressed no emotions either way. I spoke in a rhythm that was normal to most, however, it appeared to be concerning my Atlanta family. I even had injuries that would cause most five year olds to cry, however, I was not moved or concerned by the pain.
 
Continue reading Taniya's story at AE Voices