My Perspective: Carrie Aitken
10/31/2003 | Women's Lacrosse
Oct. 31, 2003
Looking back at my four-year college experience at Richmond, my emotions, feelings, and reactions returned as strong as they were the first time around. These emotions inspired tears, pride, pain, and best of all unstoppable laughter. However, I will always remember and tightly hold on to the sense of pride that I developed by being a part of the Richmond Lacrosse team. The memories, sad and happy, that have accumulated over my career will stay with me forever.
When I look back to the day I first went to Richmond and then compare that to the day I graduated from Richmond, I see two extremely different people. When I arrived, I was a very quiet, easily intimidated, and insecure girl. Luckily, I found my niche within Richmond lacrosse and began a self-improving journey that included making life-long friendships.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have been a part of the Richmond experience. I still beam with pride when I boast about the advances Richmond Lacrosse has already made and the many places it will go. Being a member of a Division I team taught me many intangible lessons and left an irreplaceable mark. Although I did not graduate with a championship ring, I felt just as proud to have been a part of developing a program that is destined for greatness. I have learned what a work ethic is, how to push through obstacles, and how to overcome adversity. Richmond Lacrosse gave me the opportunity to achieve greatness despite the odds.
My senior year contributed greatly to my success as an individual. It began a new era for the Richmond Lacrosse program. Although we were extremely fortunate to start fresh, we were still anxious. Coach Murphy took over leadership and began to mold each player. She would not stop pushing until we became the athletes we were meant to be. Although some were hesitant at first, each player ultimately bought into the system that pushed us to achieve our peak physical ability, challenged our mental toughness, and eventually ended with success. The benefit of that work was worth more than I could ever explain in words. I would not take back one day of draining workouts, frustrating practices, or strenuous lifts for anything in the world because that is what taught me how to succeed and hold my head up high. Through these times I learned how to be a leader and learned how to deal with adversity. Some days we lost games we shouldn't have, yet as a team we were able to go back into the weight room and onto the field with more intensity and passion than before. Richmond Lacrosse gave me the opportunity to experience true courage and undying passion. Our team stretched mentally and physically, yet we did it together and our relationships grew and deepened as a result. We no longer played as individuals but instead as a working unit that trusted one another and put themselves on the line for each other.
For me, that type of experience was worth more than thousands of accolades and even championships. Richmond Lacrosse embodied that attitude and passion for excellence. Everyday, I thank God that I was able to be a part of this unit and now I finally understand how it positively affected and dynamically molded my life.
Today I watch my players battle the twists and turns of college and growing up and I pray that they are able to experience life as I have through Richmond. Richmond is not only a name that stands in bold letters across my diploma, it also defines a great part of my life that will stay with me forever.