Blocking Out the Noise

Q&A with Carson Didden: Blocking Out the Noise, Embracing the Grind, and Finding Strength in Sisterhood

In our recent conversation, Carson Didden, a Division I student-athlete on the University of Notre Dame women's lacrosse team, reflected on the journey that took her from picking up a lacrosse stick as a young child to competing at one of the nation's premier programs. Carson shared valuable insight into navigating the recruiting process, overcoming comparison on social media, balancing the demands of Division I athletics and academics, leaning on teammates, and finding small moments of rest in an otherwise demanding schedule.

Q: Carson, can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into lacrosse?

Carson: I started playing because both of my older siblings played. My sister is five years older than me and my brother is two years older, so I had a lacrosse stick in my hands from the time I was five years old. I joined a developmental club team as soon as I could and have been playing ever since.

There was never really a moment where I decided I wanted to play Division I lacrosse. It was always just something I believed I was going to do. I also played field hockey growing up, but I ultimately loved lacrosse more, and that dream stayed with me from a very young age.

Q: Looking back on your recruiting journey, is there anything you wish you could tell your younger self?

Carson: I would never tell myself to take my foot off the gas when it came to working hard. During recruiting, everyone is playing an incredible amount of lacrosse, and even though you're exhausted, it's better to know you gave everything you had than to look back with regrets.

What I would change is my mindset. I wish I had trusted that everything was going to work out instead of constantly comparing myself to other players committing to schools. Recruiting happens at different times for everyone, and finding the right fit matters much more than committing first. Patience really is a virtue throughout the recruiting process.

Q: Social media has become a huge part of recruiting. How did you overcome the comparison trap?

Carson: When I was younger, I really didn't know how to escape it. Between rankings, recruiting posts, and commitment announcements, there's so much noise that makes you feel like every opinion matters.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned at Notre Dame comes from our head coach. She's constantly reminding us to ignore outside noise because the people posting online aren't at practice every day. They don't know how hard we work or what we're doing behind the scenes.

Now I barely pay attention to that stuff. Once you've achieved one dream, you're focused on chasing the next one. There's simply no room for outside opinions.

Q: How important has your support system been throughout your time at Notre Dame?

Carson: It's everything.One of the biggest lessons I learned as a freshman was that you never realize how much you're capable of until you're forced to do it. There are weeks where you've practiced every day, lifted, studied for exams, and somehow still have to find energy for everything else.

The difference is that every one of your teammates is going through the exact same thing. Instead of focusing on yourself, you learn to focus on helping the people around you succeed. When forty teammates are encouraging you every day, it's hard to doubt yourself.

Our team really is a sisterhood. We tell each other "I love you" every day when we leave the locker room, and that culture makes the hardest days manageable.

Q: With such a demanding schedule, how do you take care of your mental health?

Carson: I'm a huge reader, and I love music. Those are probably the two things that help me disconnect the most from lacrosse.

As a Division I athlete, you learn how valuable even twenty free minutes can be. Sometimes that's listening to music while walking to class. Sometimes it's reading a chapter of a book before studying.

Sleep is also incredibly important. I don't think it's realistic to always get eight hours every night, but making sleep a priority has a huge impact on both performance and mental well-being. It's something I'm continuing to work on because I know how much it matters.

Q: Is there any music you've been listening to lately?

Carson: I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan, even though I'm somehow one of the only people on my team who is.

I've also been listening to Noah Kahan nonstop. His music is incredibly calming, and I love his songwriting. And being from New Jersey, I have to include Bruce Springsteen. His upbeat songs are great when I need an energy boost.

Q: What advice would you give to younger athletes chasing big dreams?

Carson: My biggest advice is simple: all gas, no brakes.

If you can honestly look back at every day and say you gave everything you had, you'll never have regrets. Giving your best doesn't always mean having your best performance. Sometimes your best means taking care of your body, going for a recovery walk, or doing whatever you need to prepare for tomorrow.

Whatever 110% looks like on that particular day, give it. People will always appreciate genuine effort, and you'll build trust in yourself knowing you never held anything back.