Why is it important to hold this clinic and show young girls in the area that sports are fun for everyone?

It is important to hold this clinic because it exposes young girls to all different types of sports. Some girls have no idea that there are so many different sports that they can try, so I think this clinic does a great job of introducing many different sports into their lives! I also love that this clinic shows girls how fun sports can be, with no pressure or expectations. They can just come, have fun, and be themselves! 

What does it mean to have support from your teammates to help you with this endeavor?

It is truly amazing to see how much support we receive from not only our own teammates, but the female athlete population on Dickinson's campus as a whole. Every team that does not have to compete on Saturday is going to be attending our clinic. This speaks to the dedication and passion that our female athletic teams have on this campus.

Why is it important to hold this clinic and show young girls in the area that sports are fun for everyone?

It is important to hold a clinic and have as many sports represented because it allows for younger girls to find their passion for what they want to do. My parents always were signing me up for clinics and summer camps to not only keep me active, but to find something that I had fun doing and loved. We all started up at one point not knowing what sport we wanted to play, but that's the fun thing is that sports is a space where you can fail and know that people have your back to help you get back up and try again. 

What does it mean to have support from your teammates to help you with this endeavor?

Seeing faces of teammates at events like these are other ones that we host means the world to all of us. Since one of our biggest values in our mission is support, seeing those familiar faces reinforces the importance of unity and community. Having big events like this where all the female sports are present and together is empowering for the younger generation because you see all women from different backgrounds, but know that there is one thing bonding us together which is competitiveness and love for the sport that we play which I think is something super special! 

Why is it important to hold this clinic and show young girls in the area that sports are fun for everyone?

It’s essential to hold this clinic to show young girls how fun sports can be because there is still a strong narrative that sports are geared toward boys and men. Even today, while women’s sports have been gaining popularity, young girls still have fewer opportunities to try multiple sports due to costs, availability, and accessibility. Playing sports is a great way to make friends, build confidence, and express competitiveness and physicality, traits often stereotyped as masculine that may not always be normalized for girls. Sports also teach leadership skills, all while having fun. Playing sports has allowed me to stay active, be social, and step into leadership roles that might have been outside my comfort zone. Sports are for everyone, not just boys but girls and those who identify in between.

What does it mean to have support from your teammates to help you with this endeavor?

Words can't describe how appreciative I am of my teammates' willingness to help with our National Girls and Women in Sports Day clinic. My teammates genuinely support the mission of the Hera Society and have benefited first-hand from the ability to participate in athletics. My teammates and I are united by our love for athletics and our appreciation for those who made it possible for us to play at the collegiate level. They have been helpful and enthusiastic, and I look forward to working with them!