For many young adults, life after college seems predictable. You graduate, get your dream job and you get the sense of accomplishment for four years of hard work. But for others, specifically athletes, you learn who you are without the term “athlete.” For Isabella “Izzy” Holloway, it’s been a journey of learning to rediscover herself.
When the University of Kentucky first announced that they would have a STUNT team in 2022, Izzy knew this was an opportunity she had to jump on. “I’ve wanted to go to Kentucky since I was 10 years old,” she told me as I interviewed her over lunch. Having been involved in gymnastics and cheer her whole life, she went to STUNT tryouts and ultimately made the team.
Izzy was Kentucky’s very first First-Team All-American for STUNT. The sky was the limit for Izzy, with her team finishing their 2023 season as national runner-up in Division-1 STUNT. Unfortunately, a season-ending injury prevented her from competing in the championship, but she continued to contribute as a student coach. While recovering over the summer, Izzy was involved in a car accident that ultimately sidelined her from competing in her senior season—a turning point in her athletic career. “It was hard,” Izzy said. “I had plans on returning to Kentucky for my master’s degree and to continue STUNT, but my doctor told me it was no longer safe for me to perform.”
Despite the setback, Izzy finished her undergraduate studies, earning a bachelor’s degree (with honors) in kinesiology and a minor in coaching. Instead of preparing for another season and graduate school, she traveled. After leaving Kentucky, she spent time with me in Georgia, visited her mom and brother in Alabama, and then journeyed to Louisiana, Michigan, Colorado, and North Carolina. This adventure eventually led her to spend four months in Costa Rica—a time she described as “healing.”
While in Costa Rica, she learned a new language, allowed her body to recover from years of athletic wear and tear, and—most importantly—realized that starting over was okay. “I went from a small country high school where everyone knew me to a large college in a city where no one did, and I found a second family. The community I lived in while in Costa Rica didn’t know me either, but I gained a family there as well. Now, being back home in Alabama, where I’m not as well-known because it’s been so long, feels okay because I know this is where God wants me to be.”
Now, Izzy is following another passion of hers: being a hairstylist. It was something she did in college as a side gig to make extra money, but she truly enjoyed it. Now, she gets to do it every day. “Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve been able to make a family. I did it in Kentucky, Costa Rica, and now I’m able to do it again at High Def Cutz.”
To end our interview, I asked my friend if she mourned college, or if she had any regrets. Her answer was something I believe all post-college students can relate to: “I don’t miss the classes, but I mourn the campus. There aren’t a lot of places where you can go that’s walking distance from your apartment, the gym, your friends, and food. I lived my college life exactly how I wanted to, so there are no regrets. I’m just glad I was able to experience it.”
Izzy’s journey highlights the power of reinvention and the importance of embracing new chapters in life. While her time as an athlete shaped her, it’s her courage to step into unfamiliar territory and find new passions that truly define her. Her story is a reminder that life after college is not just about moving forward, but about growing, adapting, and finding fulfillment in unexpected places.
