![]() |
Painting the rock at Yorktown |
If you knew me as a child, you would have never guessed that out of my childhood friends, I would be the one to do college athletics. To quote my father "Emma I remember your last soccer game, it was just painful. After that day I swore never again." Thanks Dad, for all your moral support. I did soccer for 8 years through middle school, and in 6th grade, an ice rink opened up in my hometown (official practice rink for the Washington Capitols- no big deal) and the rink became my home.
![]() |
Spring Break 2013 Brunch at my house |
I never knew what made me do crew in the first place- I honestly cannot remember, but I know my parents wanted me to do something athletic that didn't require you to have started by the time you could walk. My first year of crew was pretty standard for Washington-Lee. I made new friends, broke a sweat, and inevitably did not finish as well as we wanted, but were looking forward to the next season. My sophomore year started off really well. With a new head coach, I was looking forward to finally getting to compete with upperclassmen in pursuit of a coveted spot on the V8 (Varsity 8- aka the best boat) and for the first couple of races, I was. However, somewhere in April that year, everything fell apart and though I was trying, I went from the first eight to getting kicked off the second. I cannot remember a time that I felt more lost and really had no idea what I was going to to next.
![]() |
Me and Olivia from sophomore year! Can't wait to race ya soon! |
Going into junior year, I was more motivated than ever to prove my coach wrong. My parents were on board and on came Fareed- my Bahamian coach who was going to kick my ass for the next two years. I can honestly say I have never been more drained from one individual both physically and emotionally in my entire life. I never cry in public, but I can remember crying in front of him not because I was in pain or was upset, but because my eyes could not physically hold in tears. Yeah, he was one of those trainers, but he honestly changed my life giving me more mental toughness to push myself more than I ever was able to before (I am actually hoping to get him on here for some of his amazing health and fitness tips).
![]() |
Good times in the 2012 Club Nationals van |
![]() |
Sometimes it really was worth getting up at 5 am to row |
![]() |
Did I mention I got to row at the most beautiful boathouse ever? |
The rest of my junior year, I continued to work hard. I remember combined with the I.B. program curriculum in high school, I was training 7 days a week and sleeping about 4 hours a night That was when I had finally learned what it took to be someone who pushed themselves so hard they couldn't be ignored. My senior year was not as successful crew wise as I wish it could have been, but boy did I have fun. I am definitely a firm believer in working extremely hard at practice but also having fun off the water as well, and some of my favorite high school memories happened that spring, and of course that February, got to sign to my dream school and couldn't be happier.
Overall, as cheesy as it sounds, joining crew changed my life and continues to be one of the best decisions that I ever made. I have had the opportunity to travel, become such a happier, more motivated person, meet some of my best friends, row at a beautiful boathouse and by being captain, learned what it means to be a leader and how rewarding it can be, even though it means taking responsibility. Looking back at high school, even though I am not even a year out, when thinking of my favorite moments, the ones that come to mind are definitely the things that happened with my teammates, both on and off the water. I also could not do anything without the incredible support of my parents, coaches and friends for always being there to pick up the pieces and help me when things got tough. I guess all I can say is that I hope, whatever it it is, that you have something you do that you love so much that even when it beats you down, and rips your heart out, keeps you coming back. Because somehow when you love it, it makes it all worth it.
![]() |
Some of the best people on a typical Saturday at PBC |
![]() |
Classic Georgetown pic |
No comments