The Whole Student: Jackie Reyneke ’17 Journeyed from Athlete to Life Coach

I’m honored to share this mental health reflection from Jackie Reyneke ’17.

Jackie’s journey to become a life coach can be traced through her own experiences as a highly accomplished athlete, through painful personal losses and an enduring curiosity about the human psyche. She shows that career aspirations can shift and that ultimately satisfaction comes from following your heart. I’ve edited and condensed this piece from an interview with Jackie, after Alumni Day this year. If you have a story to share, find me at jessica.d.deutsch@gmail.com. — Jess Deutsch ’91

I grew up in a small, predominantly white, privileged town in NJ, supported by family and friends, excelling in academics and sports, and believing that hard work led to success. I pushed myself relentlessly, measuring my worth by test grades, points scored, and games won.

Arriving at Princeton, I set out to become an orthodontist, juggling pre-med classes, basketball, and new friendships. For the first time, success didn’t come easily. My heart raced and my stomach hurt before practices. Classes felt impossible. One of my childhood best friends, Madison (who was running track at Penn), and I talked about transferring to play soccer together. But how could we walk away from Ivy League schools others dreamed of attending?

Then the night before my Psych 101 final, Madison died by suicide. The loss shattered my world. I dropped pre-med, declared psychology as my major, and tried to make sense of what happened in Madison’s brain — to understand depression and anxiety and find ways to help others — without realizing I needed help myself.

I was lucky — I had family, teammates, and coaches who supported me through the emotional roller coaster that followed. Amid all the grief, life kept moving. We went undefeated and won an Ivy League Championship. I suffered concussions and broken bones, joined Cottage Club, and made lifelong friends. I wrote my thesis on student-athlete mental health. I graduated. 

I thought earning my diploma would unlock the world, but instead, I felt stuck. While my peers appeared to be effortlessly stepping into top jobs and new lives, I was lost. Instagram comparisons moved over to LinkedIn. I started a post-bac pre-med program, but soon admitted another decade in school wasn’t for me (kudos to all the doctors out there). I leaned into my Princeton network, made hundreds of phone calls, and landed an internship at a New York City content marketing agency.

Over time, I worked in strategy, advertising, communications, events, and PR, using my psychology degree more than I expected. I had incredible mentors, led major campaigns, and even found myself at an NBA All-Star Weekend. Yet, the moments I loved most were mentoring Princeton basketball players, coaching youth sports, and helping colleagues navigate career paths.

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After completing the Youth Coaching Institute certification course, I took a huge leap and bet on myself. This year, I launched Power Forward, a life coaching practice.

I love seeing a young person find the confidence to take on a challenge, shift their mindset, or achieve a goal. I recognize how privileged I am to have experienced my own wild roller coaster of highs and lows. I know what it’s like to feel lost, overwhelmed, or unsure. I want to be the person I wished was sitting next to me on the lowest points of my ride.

College athletes and teams — especially in the Ivy League — should have more than therapy available. They need open conversations about mental health, identity, and the unique challenges they face. Many athletes are hesitant to open up. Some of the toughest struggles go unspoken. I want to create more opportunities for athletes to talk freely with each other in trusted settings. I hope mental well-being can be as much a part of the athletic experience as physical training. I want to make sure athletes feel seen, heard, and supported beyond their performance on the field or court.

Something tells me I am just beginning.