Playing tennis at Smith helped me in countless ways. From the simplicity of a daily workout to the camaraderie of a team, to the leadership experience of being a captain, all of these have helped me on a daily basis as I work towards achieving my medical doctorate.

I make time to exercise at least three times a week in between classes and hospital work which keeps my head clear and reduces my stress levels. For a short while I stopped, and the effects were evident. Picking up a racquet and hitting with fellow students got me back on my toes and on my game in classes as well. Teamwork is essential in the healthcare field; being able to act as both a team player and team leader has helped tremendously during my time in medical school.

Most of all, the relentless pursuit of achieving a goal, and the hard work required to do so have helped me ‘dust myself off and try try again.’ The persistent perseverance that leads to improvement and ultimately, to success, is what I learned as an athlete at Smith.

Five years ago I won a Gold Medal in Park City, Utah in a national downhill ski race. I am sharing my story just to let alums know that if you want to do something enough, you can not only work toward, but achieve your goals!
I've since retired from racing but I still continue to ski and love every moment of it. It's all about attitude....you can do anything you put your mind to, regardless of your age !

I enjoyed playing on an intramural class soccer team for four years when I was at Smith. I don't believe there were any intermural sports in those days. Nowadays, many girls grow up playing soccer - my nieces and granddaughters, for example. But back in the early 1960s, it was unusual for women to play soccer. Other sports - such as tennis - had more cachet. I never discussed my soccer playing, even though I was "All-Smith" for several years in a row, because I felt a little embarassed about that activity.
My experience came in handy when I taught at an African boys' high school in Cameroon in the Peace Corps after graduating from Smith. When we had a faculty versus students game, I was the only American on the faculty team that knew how to play. The British and French male teachers knew how to play, but our two American male teachers had never played before. The students were stunned.
Playing a team sport was valuable because teamwork is at the core of business, politics - just about everything. It takes a team effort to play in and win a soccer game - and it takes a team effort to succeed in business, politics - you name it. Individual effort is critical, but knowing how to work with a team is just as important. It's fun to kick the ball through the goal posts for a winning score, but it takes the support of everyone on the team to do that.
In retrospect, I value the team sport experience I had at Smith and the lessons it taught, which have helped me be a team player when that was needed.

My passion was ballet, but when I fell and injured my neck, that ended my career as a dancer. I searched for something to fill that hole and tried many activities, none of which seemed to fill the void until I joined a sailing club. From there, I purchased a Bristol 30 and started to sail my heart out, solo. Everyone I met kept telling me, "You can't go there by yourself!" But I did, because I didn't see the obstacles only the goal, and that tenacity was instilled in me through dance at Smith. I sailed up and down the Keys, and then over to the Bahamas (had 1 crew for part of the trip). I even raced by myself even though I didn't always place very well, but I didn't care, the competition was inside me, not outside. I am the only woman who has ever received the "Sailor of the Year" award at the local sailing club. I am telling you my story because Smith helped me believe in myself just by osmosis from other women and Profs, and to achieve anything I put my mind to, even when the odds were against me. Most men discourage me, and just like Smith, the women cheer me on! I wish I could return to that spirit that an all women's college has to offer because it is "priceless". I started my own corporation in Central America, and now am a hospital laboratory director. Smith was like my "rudder" which I use to this day in my professional decisions. When I think I can't get something accomplished I only have to remember to adjust my rudder and I am back on course. Thank you Smith College!

I played field hockey and softball at Smith. Athletics were a very large part of my Smith experience. They helped me to be disciplined, relieved stress, and cultivated my leadership abilities. I was a center-halfback in field hockey and a shortstop on the softball field.

Today I work as a project manager in the field of affordable housing development. I often have moments, when I am surrounded by team members on my projects, that I am reminded of my athletic experiences at Smith and all of the lessons they bestowed upon me. How to motivate others when your team is down; how to lead by example; how to work in teams with differing styles and personalities.

Having just corresponded with my former softball coach, I can also say that the lifelong connection with the Smith Athletics department is pretty special.

Thank you Smith College.