She started to take a step back and search for new ways to tackle some of her mental health issues. She channeled her energy into something that helps others, a mental health organization for student-athletes named Cards All In.
“I believe I’m a good person and a lot of bad things have happened to me and I believe it happened for a reason,” said Ryskova. “I just wanted to take my experiences and my stories and put them in a good light that can help others.”
Helping others is something that Ryskova has found a passion for, something that will have an impact on her future.
“It keeps my spirits high that I can actually help people despite the fact that I’m not able to bring scores home,” she said.
Many student-athletes have dealt with or are dealing with mental health issues across all sports. Ryskova realized this and saw a need for change.
“It does not matter if our problems are the same, we both have a problem and we are both willing to be vulnerable,” said Ryskova. “If it comes from student athletes’ hearts, people will just take it a different way.”
Having this community is important to her and her peers when they might be missing home. For her, home happens to be over 4,000 miles away.
“In Cards All In, we want to focus on being humans first rather than just athletes. It does not matter if you are a golfer, tennis player, swimmer, diver, or soccer player. For us, it’s important that you’re doing okay as a human.”
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