Why did you choose to attend Trinity?
When I arrived on campus at Trinity College I had one of those gut feelings that people try to describe to you when you are starting to tour colleges. I could tell that the students at the college were happy to be there and that was the biggest thing I was looking for going into my four years. I loved the connection the college had made with the city and I could tell the field hockey team was truly a family.
Why did you choose to be a Division III student-athlete?
I appreciated the balance between academics and athletics. Professors want you to be able to perform your best on the field and coaches want you to be able to be as successful as possible in the classroom. This mutual understanding creates an awesome environment where you can be the most well-rounded version of yourself.
What is the best thing about being part of the NESCAC?
The competition and level of play in the NESCAC is incredible. When trying to explain the conference to the first-years who have not played in a NESCAC game, our coach summed it up perfectly and said: “every single game feels like a conference championship.” Every game is a toss-up and anything can happen on any given game day and that is what makes it such an exciting conference to compete in.
What is your dream job/career?
I have always loved the work done by the American Civil Liberties Union. I would love to work at an organization that strives to preserve the rights and liberties that are guaranteed to all people. I hope to be able to pursue my interest in law, policy, and human rights to help underrepresented people.
What extracurricular activities or service activities do you participate in?
Since my freshman year, I have worked as a barista in the coffee shop in the library. I have loved this job because I have been able to see how much of a community Trinity really is. Every day, I get to see and interact with everyone who comes in and out of the library.
Looking back on your four years, what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being voted captain of the field hockey team. Sports have always been such an important part of my life and my team at Trinity means so much to me. It was a huge honor.
What is something you enjoy doing that you never get tired of?
I have always loved listening to autobiographies that are read by the authors. I think it is so fun to listen to people tell the stories of their lives in their own voices.
What has been your favorite class outside of your major?
My favorite class I have taken outside of my major has been creative writing. The kind of creative thought that goes into writing works of short fiction and poetry is not something that I have spent very much time doing and I loved it. It was such a nice break to get away from the academic writing I was used to and get back to writing for pleasure and fun.
Who is your favorite professor?
My favorite professor at Trinity has been Professor Falk. He has such a passion for the courses he teaches within the Public Policy and Law Department. You can tell that he loves to see his students learn and grow and he fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment. My favorite thing about Professor Falk is his commitment to his students outside of the classroom. He is one of the only professors I have seen at almost every sports home game. He has shown the field hockey team unwavering support through our seasons and we are so lucky!
What internships/research projects have you participated in?
In the Spring of my junior year, I was an intern for a lobbying and consulting group called Capitol Consulting LLC in the Hartford State Capitol. I got to sit in many legislative meetings, study bills, and legislative documents, and conduct research for clients. One of the amazing things about Trinity is the accessibility to the State Capital and this internship allowed me to have first-hand experience and knowledge about the workings of the legislative cycle and process. This past summer, I was an intern for The Borgen Project which is a nonprofit organization that strives to make poverty a focus of U.S. foreign policy by working alongside senators and congressmen to enact legislation that addresses and decreases global poverty. This opportunity showed me how policy can practically and effectively change the lives of vulnerable groups. In my senior year, I am writing a Human Rights honors thesis about how the criminalization and over-policing of the sex work industry harm migrant women. I am excited to dedicate an entire year to diving into a topic and creating a piece of academic work.
What has been the most interesting part of your major?
The Human Rights department has a fascinating program called the “Trinity Prison Seminar Series” which is a series of courses that examine the social problems that have led to mass incarceration by engaging directly with correctional institutions. I took one of the courses called “Human Rights through Performance,” which explored how visual and performance art was being used by female prisoners at York Prison. We were able to meet with different women who had been previously incarcerated and watch performances conducted within the prison.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being a student-athlete?
The biggest lesson I have learned being a student-athlete is how to work with 20 other people towards one common goal. If a team wants to win and be as successful as possible, there has to be 100% buy-in. I have had to learn to find complete focus and leave school and personal life behind when I am on the field so that I can help to push the team towards the common goal.
What is your favorite place on your campus?
My favorite place on campus is the locker room. My favorite memories in college have been sitting in the locker room with my team listening to music, laughing, getting ready for games, and hanging out between classes. After a long day, it is the best feeling to go back to the locker room before practice and see 20 of my best friends.
Who has been the most influential person to you during your time in college?
There is not enough that I can say about Anne Parmenter. She has created a history of tradition and family at Trinity College and I know every single person who has been able to play for her can feel it as soon as they step onto the field. She has shown me how to find a relentless drive for success within myself and an attitude that is unaccepting of complacency. When you are coached by Anne on the field, off the field, on the rock wall, or on the top of a mountain you believe you can be the best version of yourself because she full-heartedly believes in you.
What is something interesting about you that others might not know?
I grew up on the campus of a boarding school. My mother is the Head of Upper School at St. Stephens Episcopal School, a boarding school in Austin, Texas, so I have lived on the campus for my whole life.
What is something you enjoy doing when not in class or competing in your sport?
My favorite thing to do when I am not competing in my sport is coming home to my house where I live with 14 of my best friends. It is so awesome to all cook dinner together and sit around and talk about our days. It feels like a giant family!
