MY LETU STORY: Kylie Weeks

NOTE: This is part of a series on letuathletics.com with feature stories written by senior student-athletes about their time at LeTourneau and the impact it has made on them.

By: Kylie Weeks | Sr. | Women's Basketball/Women's Tennis

When I first came to LeTourneau, I had no idea of all the amazing things God had planned for me during my time here. 

As I was graduating high school, I debated whether I wanted to continue basketball in college or focus solely on my education. I was leaning toward attending a different school and giving up basketball – until I visited LeTourneau. On my visit, I felt the warmth of the faculty and the genuine kindness from everyone. After lots of prayer, I felt that this was where God was calling me next, and I decided to come here. 

Once I arrived, I felt a peace and comfort about my decision. I had been drawn to LeTourneau because of the Christian atmosphere, the business department, and the opportunity to play basketball at the next level. I grew close with the other freshmen on the team as we struggled together to adjust to the speed of college games. In one of our first official practices of the season, I was so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that I teared up as I closed our practice with a prayer. 

I knew that not every high school athlete had the chance to play in college, and I was grateful to be part of the few. 

In the spring of my freshman year, I had the opportunity to join the women’s tennis team. I played tennis competitively in high school but did not expect to continue in college. My roommate, the tennis team, and all my coaches encouraged me to join at least for the semester because the team was low on numbers due to injuries. I was nervous since I had not been in match play for almost a year, but the coaches worked with me and my teammates reassured me. Although I struggled to perform my best in the first few matches, I became more comfortable and started to find success. Now, I have been a four-year member of the tennis team, and I’m so blessed to be part of another program. Tennis has given me some of my closest friends at LeTourneau, and I am so thankful for each of these lasting connections. 

The business department allowed me to expand my skill set and work on real-world projects during my time as an undergrad. I learned in my first few years that although I was decent at accounting, it was not a profession for me, and I began flourishing in the marketing department. In my classes, I had the opportunity to work on projects for local businesses, travel attractions, and potential start-ups. The skills I have gained from these experiences have made me confident and passionate about my pursuit of marketing. 

At LeTourneau, I found a home where I could pursue my faith in everything I was involved in. Through all the theology classes I took, I learned more in-depth concepts and gained a deeper understanding of my beliefs. With the basketball girls, we shared our struggles and helped each other create better habits for growth. Life groups gave us more opportunities to come together in fellowship. The main verse our program has strived to embody is Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” This applied to competing with each other on the court, but we also embodied it off the court by supporting one another and pushing each other in the classroom. 

From the beginning, I was dedicated to becoming the best player I could be. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and that carries into sports for me. I knew we weren’t going to win every game, but I wanted to do everything I could to help my team win. I spent hours on the shooting machine working on my shot, trained hard over the summers, and came back better in some way each year. I have always been passionate about basketball. 

I was able to be in a leadership position on the team, which gave me opportunities to serve my teammates. During my time here, there was a shift in our team culture that made us better on and off the court. I am proud to have been part of that and to have been a leader guiding my teammates toward better habits. I always loved helping my teammates—leaving goodies in their lockers and sharing my special gameday gum with them. Being a leader on this team has helped me communicate with many people, handle difficult situations, and make decisions that affect a group.

These four years revealed to me more than ever the passion I had for basketball and my genuine love for the game. I am going to miss playing on LETU’s court with my friends and having a big smile on my face. I am grateful for the opportunity to have played for these programs and for the overwhelming joy they brought me. Being part of LeTourneau athletics has helped me grow into the person I am today, and I thank God every day for the ability to play. 

God has blessed me so much with the ability to compete in two sports these past four years, and I am going to miss my time being part of these programs.

Kylie Weeks #23