Maddy Weber
At Libero Pathways, we help student-athletes from all collegiate sporting backgrounds pursue overseas postgraduate opportunities. Maddy Weber, a former NCAA D1 volleyball player at Northern Kentucky University, is a perfect example.
Maddy moved to Scotland to complete a Master’s degree while continuing her volleyball career, and now works as a Development Officer with Scottish Volleyball.
From NCAA Division I Volleyball to working for Scottish Volleyball
“You may feel outside your comfort zone at first, but if you embrace the culture, it will embrace you.”
Maddy looks back on her time in Northern Kentucky with fond memories. Being part of a college team was such a great experience, she says. It taught me a lot about discipline, teamwork and pushing through challenges. Some of my closest friendships came from my time playing at NKU and even after graduating and going our separate ways, I am still super close with some of my old teammates as well as friends from other teams.
Although she hadn’t always planned to study overseas, Maddy had long dreamed of traveling and experiencing other cultures. When the opportunity arose to pursue a Master’s degree in Scotland to get a world-respected teaching qualification at a fraction of the cost of a US program, she couldn’t say no. At that point, I didn’t even realize I had the opportunity to play or work within volleyball as an adult in Scotland, she added.
The academic transition from the US to Scotland was striking. Maddy notes that her undergraduate experience included a variety of general education courses, which is not the case in Scotland. She told us, All of my classes were very much focused on exactly what I was studying and the qualification I was studying towards. You aren’t paying for extra semesters and classes that don’t align with your career aspirations.”
Life in Scotland itself brought many new and different experiences. It does rain here more often than it does back home. Maddy laughs, but that also means the vibes on sunny days are so good.
Having public transportation is also great, she adds, You can drive on an American license here for one year, but you almost don’t even need to because the public transportation is so good. Lastly, Everyone here is very proud to be Scottish, and I feel like that really enriches the cultural experience and helps you learn a lot about the traditions of Scotland.
Maddy also embraced competition on a new stage. In her first year playing volleyball in Scotland, she won the Scottish Premier Volleyball League. It was comparable to winning a conference championship in college, she says. You play everyone in a league table format, so coming out on top means you are the best team over the entire season, which was a great accomplishment.
Off the court, Maddy enjoys exploring her new home. She spends weekends going on long walks, visiting different coffee shops in Glasgow and traveling around Scotland and the rest of Europe. She loves watching football games with her boyfriend and hunting for treasures in second-hand furniture shops. Love a good thrift, she laughs.
Now working as a Development Officer with Scottish Volleyball, Maddy works to grow the sport at the grassroots level across the country. I deliver instruction to school kids to teach them the basics of volleyball so they can start clubs within their schools. She adds, I run events that bring teams together from schools all over the country for a day full of volleyball, as well as facilitating the Scottish Schools Cup which is the only national competition for schools to play volleyball in Scotland. Maddy finally says, I do all this and so so so much more and I love it.
Reflecting on her journey, Maddy encourages other student-athletes to take the leap. It is such a great opportunity to meet new people, learn new things, and see a different part of the world. She acknowledges, it can definitely be scary to leave everything you’ve grown up with and you will feel outside your comfort zone at first, but if you embrace the culture, it will embrace you.
Feeling inspired by Maddy’s unique journey?
Your pathway could be next. Whether it’s pursuing a postgraduate degree abroad, continuing your sport at an elite level or discovering life in a new country, we can guide you through the options and help you choose the pathway that fits your goals. Maddy’s story shows that every athlete’s journey is unique, and yours can be too.