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Earlier this week I was telling my son that I was nervous about speaking in front of you all.\u00a0 Finn, you are wise beyond your 13 years.\u00a0 He told me to just speak from my heart.\u00a0 So, this is what my heart says:<\/p>\nEarlier this week I was telling my son that I was nervous about speaking in front of you all.\u00a0 Finn, you are wise beyond your 13 years.\u00a0 He told me to just speak from my heart.\u00a0 So, this is what my heart says:<\/p>\n
I came to Williston as a reserved and somewhat nervous 10th grader.\u00a0 My Proctor, Kelly, said to Curl (who was my French House dorm parent and future coach) \u201cShe can\u2019t be a hockey player. She is too quiet!\u201d\u00a0 I was so nervous that I cried the entire first night.\u00a0 My roommate, Marsi, who is here today, can attest to that.<\/p>\n
I know that not everyone here is an athlete but everyone here can strive to be their best self.\u00a0 Consider these points, if you would:<\/p>\n
All programs have to start somewhere.\u00a0 I call this \u201cFrom then until now\u201d.<\/p>\n
Girls hockey was a new program and they gave us a locker room downstairs.\u00a0 I am pretty sure it was an old boiler room.\u00a0 The stairs were metal so we had to put our skates on upstairs.\u00a0 But really the worst part, was when they only did the ice between the 2nd and 3rd periods and we took rest in, dare I say, the boys locker room.\u00a0 Whooooo! The smell was almost unbearable!<\/p>\n
Before Williston, I had played hockey for 7 years.\u00a0 My hockey role here was a combination of playing but also of inclusion and teaching.\u00a0 Most of the students I was sharing the ice with had never played before.\u00a0 I loved seeing my friends improve.\u00a0 The day to day successes, the hard work, the mitosis drills and the fun we had on the ice, brought us together.\u00a0 As Coach Doc would say, \u201cWe are a scrappy team.\u201d\u00a0 And we were:\u00a0 not perfect, ups AND downs, but we had purpose and we collectively worked on our goal of being hockey players.<\/p>\n
I am so proud of how far the program has come.\u00a0 I wore my Willy sweatshirt with pride at the girls state semi-finals.\u00a0 I love that I am still learning the game:\u00a0 still trying to master the self pass off of the back of the net that Christina showed me at a local pick-up game.<\/p>\n
After having my hockey career at UNH:\u00a0 learning systems, personal development and championships, I have come full circle in my hockey today.\u00a0 I have my regular league team but I also try to help new women players who have picked up the sport in their 30\u2019s, 40\u2019s and 50\u2019s!<\/p>\n
I would like to quote the great Bobby Orr:<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one is going to succeed on their own, what sometimes looks like an individual accomplishment is always the result of a team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well, my team includes Williston.\u00a0 Thank you Williston for a place to be, a place to thrive.\u00a0 For all the smiles and for all the friendships.<\/p>\n
My team is also my family.\u00a0 Thank you Mom and Dad for making me, for coming to my games and practices and encouraging me.\u00a0 Thank you Ryan.\u00a0 My life\u2019s partner in crime, crazy athletic endeavors and for the love and support.\u00a0 And thank you to Ben, Maggie and Finn.\u00a0 I literally could not be prouder of you all.\u00a0 I love you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Earlier this week I was telling my son that I was nervous about speaking in front of you all.\u00a0 Finn, you are wise beyond your 13 years.\u00a0 He told me to just speak from my heart.\u00a0 So, this is what my heart says: I came to Williston as a reserved and somewhat nervous 10th grader.\u00a0 … Continue reading Hall of Fame Inductee Molly Connor ’88<\/span>