The unknown can be a scary thing.

To be fair, part of it was that the conversation came hours before No. 14 UCLA defeated No. 16 Arizona 8-7 to win a Pac-12 series Monday in Tucson, Ariz.

The Bruins are trying to get back to the Women’s College World Series and Mysha Sataraka is a big part of that attempt.

The 2012 Punahou graduate is enjoying arguably her finest season yet for UCLA, which won its 30th game of the season and is 11-5-1 in Pac-12 play and a half-game out of second place.

The Bruins host Arizona State this weekend for Sataraka’s final three home games, and the season, along with graduation, will all be over within the next six weeks.

So what lies ahead for the one-time All-Pac-12 selection?

“I’m not really too sure,” Sataraka said in a phone interview. “There are options but not anything in particular.”

Is there a chance to play softball professionally?

“Yes, but I’m not really looking toward that,” Sataraka said.

Does that mean you’re ready to move on?

“To be honest, I can’t really answer that,” Sataraka replied. “I’m totally embedded in the season. We’ll see right after the season ends.”

Right there provided a rare glimpse into the life Sataraka has led since she was was very young.

In elementary school, Sataraka was playing baseball with the boys and succeeding.

When she got to Punahou, she immediately became known for hitting balls farther than coaches had ever seen.

In four years with the Bruins, Sataraka is hitting over .330 for her career with more than 40 home runs, 100 runs scored and 150 RBIs.

She has grinded the entire way, from the community baseball fields around the island to the home of the CWS in Oklahoma City, Okla.

“My career has been a long one,” Sataraka said. “It started from when I couldn’t even tell you.”

The past 12 months have seen some of the great professional players in their respective sports retire. Derek Jeter hit a walk-off single in his final home game with the New York Yankees. Kobe Bryant dropped 60 points in the final game of his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Who knows what Sataraka has in store for her final games wearing the gold and blue?

Like those two all-time greats, Sataraka’s entire life has revolved around sports, making the end tough to even discuss.

“It’s not like it’s more pressure or anything,” Sataraka said about her final games. “My teammates bring it up kind of a lot — the last time playing with your teammates and coaches and this group of girls — but it won’t affect me as much because I’m more focused on trying to play for my entire team.

“I’m a senior, but it’s not really about me. It’s about the team.”

The team has gotten slightly better every year Sataraka has been with the Bruins.

UCLA advanced to an NCAA regional her freshman season and was bounced in a Super Regional her sophomore year.

Last season, Sataraka drove in at least one run in all three games played in the College World Series, but UCLA was eliminated after losses to Michigan and Auburn.

To go all the way this year, Sataraka will have to come up big again. Her .362 batting average is a career high and she’s drawn a staggering 45 walks in 30 games to give her a ridiculous .545 on-base percentage.

Oregon leads the conference with a 13-2 record, but UCLA proved it’s right there with the Ducks, handing UO its only two losses in conference play and winning the series.

“We’re on the right track,” Sataraka said. “I mean, we’re trying to play better than last year. I feel good about it.”

Sataraka is comfortable now, but no matter what happens, it will all be over in a short amount of time. Life without softball is a real possibility.

If that’s the case, the sport has given her the ultimate life lesson to live by.

“I’ve learned that when the competition is so high and there is so much at stake and you’re working with people every single day traveling and doing all of these things, it’s crazy how much you need everyone in a team,” Sataraka said. “There are so many important roles to fill and you need everyone and that’s exactly what I’ve taken from softball. It’s so much bigger than any one person on the team.”

With that outlook on life, Sataraka is going to be just fine.