Strength training
At the start of the academic year and the fall athletic season that was put on hold due to safety precautions, we checked with a few student-athletes. We asked what lessons they are learning during the global health crisis that are making them stronger in the classroom and in their sport. Here is what they shared.
Lydia DaCorte ’21
- Business and management major
- Swimming and diving team
“Throughout this pandemic, I’ve learned how motivation plays a key role in productivity in my day-to-day life. In the beginning, when there were local quarantines, it was hard to get into a routine and find a good balance of school, exercise and free time because it was so easy to just want to lounge on the couch all day with my family. As a student-athlete, I am juggling many different things every day. So being able to find that routine and create the structure that I am used to has proven to me that staying motivated is very important in so many ways. It contributes to my daily life in ways I didn’t even realize until I had the time to truly think about it.”
Brennan McIntyre ’22
- Psychology and business and management double major
- Lacrosse and swimming and diving team
“I’ve been learning how to stay focused in dire times and how to stay patient even when it seems difficult. The pandemic and all of its consequences have made it very easy to make excuses and just accept that things are going to be different. But I’ve been working on staying focused on what I am still in control of—my grades and my athleticism. It gives you a sense of purpose rather than a sense that things are out of your control. And throughout the entirety of COVID-19, it has been really tough to have faith that things will get better, but that’s why it has been so important to simply stay patient and not overthink things. Grounding myself and being patient have kept me level-headed, which has allowed me to stay in shape and keep studying hard.”
Mikayla Pucci ’21
- Mathematics and secondary education double major
- Basketball team
“One thing that I have learned during the global pandemic is the importance of slowing down. As a senior this year, as well as a student-athlete, slowing down has allowed me to think about what I am grateful for and enjoy the little things that I may have missed in the past. As a student, slowing down has helped me get more out of the material I’m learning, and continue to build relationships with professors and peers. As an athlete, slowing down will help me to focus on the things that I can control and be more present throughout the season. Taking time to slow down and reflect will allow me to get the best out of myself as both a student and an athlete.”
Margaret “Meg” Walker ’22
- Psychology major
- Track and field team
“I have learned that patience is a virtue. I’ve had to be very patient during this process since not everything is functioning in a familiar manner. However, I’ve combated this strangeness by keeping my routines so that I can continue to stay motivated.”
Mark D’Augelli Jr. ’21
- Economics and business management double major
- Baseball team
“The best thing that I’ve learned from this pandemic is that being restricted to your house or quarantine space should not hinder your improvement athletically or academically. There is so much I was able to do just in my house in terms of workouts, baseball fundamentals and academically. For example, I was able to do body weight or limited weight workouts for exercise at home, go on hikes or runs and use family members to do basic fundamental baseball drills. In terms of academics, the pandemic has taught me there are always ways to improve—whether it is learning something new, reading a new book, or stimulating your brain in different ways that you never would have. Yes, virtual learning is different, but a positive adjustment can be made, and ultimately, it shouldn’t hinder academic performance.”
—Sandy Coleman
Go to the recreation and fitness page and watch them guide a virtual tour of our athletics spaces.