Q. How difficult is it to balance crew with school?
A.I think I pride myself in managing my time wisely. I don’t procrastinate as much and I get things done early. I do my homework in class or during lunch, but it’s really not that bad. I find sufficient time for both of them, no matter how close to impossible that is.
Q. What is your favorite thing about crew?
A. The best thing about crew, I say, is my girls! There are three other people in the boat with me and I trust them with my life-literally, if I don’t want to fall in into the dirty Anacostia. The team is incredibly close, and we have the best of times even after doing a 6k test plus a 3-mile run and 800 squats.
Q. What is the hardest part about crew?
A. There’s this indoor rowing machine called an erg, which is synonymous with “the ultimate torture machine.” During winter conditioning, since the river is frozen all over, we use the ergs to keep in shape, and those things should be piled on top one another and be burned to ashes. Rowing in those ergs is so much different from rowing for real on the water since being in the river is actually fun no matter how much in pain you are. On the ergs, there’s nothing to think about but the pain as you push yourself beyond your limits. Also, we get these disgusting, gaping blisters and calluses on our hands as if we grate our hands with a cheese grater. We get these blisters from gripping the oars too hard and making the same repetitive movements. If you graze your fingers over my hands, all you can feel is the rough, bumpy remnants of dried blisters. We put tape around them while we practice so it won’t hurt us, and believe, they hurt like crazy.
Q. What is something many students may not know about your sport?
A. Crew is a mental sport. It’s not exactly a hand-eye coordination thing like basketball, nor does it involve strategy or “plays” like football. It ranges from endurance to inhuman strength to speed to the ability to go farther than what your body is capable of. Like I mentioned earlier, in this sport, you have to push yourself until you pass out-and trust me, you get accolades for doing just that. It’s painful, yes, to give your 150% effort all the time, but in the end, it definitely is worth it. Over passing the rigor is the fun that you have being on the water after school everyday, with a team who always puts a smile on your face no matter how exhausted you are, and knowing that you’ve learned to improve your discipline and self-control.
Q. What experiences have you come away with from crew?
A. I think I’ve learned to become a stronger, more responsible person, both physically and emotionally. With the business of crew and hectic life in school, I learned how to manage my time. I learned what it was like to be part of a team, and lead that team with great wisdom as Varsity Women’s Captain. Because of the extraneous workout we do every day, I’ve become significantly stronger than your average girl and I’ve gained that drive to keep going on no matter how the road or river ahead gets difficult. Also, being able to travel to different states for regattas and getting to meet other rowers, that’s something. It’s fascinating to see the most different and diverse people milling around a boathouse, united by one common passion: rowing. It’s a great sport that improves not only the conditions of your body, but also your mind.
