While at Duke I played varsity lacrosse, spent a lot of time in the art studio, and built great, lasting friendships. I have a special place in my heart for women’s issues and athletics, and am fortunate to be able to pursue these as a career. I am currently working at the University of Southern California with the new Division I Women’s Lacrosse program. My love for athletics and women’s sports goes far beyond the final whistle on the field and the outcome of the game. During my four years at Duke, our team was perennially nationally ranked and highly talented. We went to four Final Fours, and suffered a heartbreaking loss each year. It was only upon graduating that I was able to realize just how important the intangibles had become in my life and growth. In our sport, and many women’s sports, there is no professional level to go on to, no seven-figure contract to be had, and very little glory to be bestowed. Despite the grueling commitment- long hours on cold and wet fields, soreness, fatigue, injuries, and emotional highs and lows, we knew, even then, that we were a part of something special. After every difficult loss, we kept coming back for more. After I graduated I realized just how significant those times were to me as a woman. I had never considered coaching while I was in college, but today I am driven by the desire to give back to the sport that has given me so much.
The Baldwin Scholars program gave me an awareness of the world around me and helped me make the most of my Duke experience. The most amazing aspect of the program, to me, was that each Baldwin was gaining this perspective on a very different path than mine. Collectively we grew and learned from one another, as well as from the amazing programming set for us. It was truly an honor to be a part of such an amazingly talented group of women, and I am humbled to call myself a part of this prestigious program.