Cailee Fairchild, a sophomore from Haddam, Conn., has been chosen for the focus of this installment of the “Endicott Student-Athlete Spotlight” for her works both on the fireld of competition, and even more important, off of it. Cailee, a Psychology major, is a member of the women's lacrosse team that is attempting to win the CCC title for the tenth straight season. We were able to catch up with the defender and ask her a few questions for our segment.
Why did you choose to be a Division III student-athlete?
I chose to be a Division III athlete because I wanted to place an emphasis on school first. Focusing on my academics, getting good grades and completing all my assignments will full effort is the most important for me to be able to be successful in the future. I felt as though playing at a DIII level would accommodate me as a student and as an athlete. At the Division III level, the coaches and athletic department are more understanding of placing academics first.
What do you like most about being a student-athlete at Endicott?
I love the community being a student-athlete allows me to be a part of. I get to see several sides of the Endicott campus and be a part of a wonderful, hard-working athletics program. Playing on a collegiate team has introduced me to several amazing athletes and staff and allowed me to form several great relationships that I would not have been exposed to had I not been a student athlete.
What are some of the greatest lessons you have learned from being a student-athlete?
I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned from being a student-athlete is how to manage my time effectively. There is a lot of work and time to be put into my sport to ensure that I am the best that I can be. This requires that I manage my time effectively so that I can get all of my school work done first and still have time to do the things that I need to be a good athlete. Being a student-athlete has also taught me a lot about compromise and working with people I may not see eye to eye with. While I love all the teammates, I may not always agree with the opinions they have or the decisions they make, but we have to work past those differences to create a cohesive unit.
Who have been the most influence people in your athletic career?
I think my teammates would describe me as positive and energetic. I am always looking to make others excited and bring some positive energy to the locker room by being vocal as well as hopeful. My teammates as well as my coaches have been the most influential in my athletic career. They inspire me everyday to work harder. My close friends and family have also been a huge influence, always supporting my schedule and my athletic career.
How would your teammates describe you?
I think my teammates would describe me as positive and energetic. I am always looking to make others excited and bring some positive energy to the locker room by being vocal as well as hopeful.
Do you have any pre-game/pre-event rituals? If so, what are they?
I always listen to music to amp me up before I go into the locker room. We also have a little dance party in the locker room before we head out the field to get everyone happy and excited.
What is your greatest sports moment?
I think that my greatest sports moment would be making program history in with my high school team. As a senior, we went undefeated during the regular and post season, and made it all the way to the state finals. We lost that game, but the steps we made during that season are unforgettable.
Which public figure (athlete, politician, entertainer, etc) would you most like to meet and what one question would you ask them?
I would want to meet the group of people, rather than person, that put together Yards for Yeardley. It involves members of the lacrosse community that raise awareness for domestic and relationship violence in honor of Yeardley Love, who died five years ago. Teams that are on board with this organization vow to run one million yards as a team in support of the cause. I would want to ask them where the idea for the movement came from and how it has affected all of their lives as athletes.
What internships have you completed (or are a part of now)? What benefit have you gotten out of them?
I completed an internship at Solnit South Children's Psychiatric Hospital in Connecticut and am currently looking to fulfill my sophomore internship requirement with a psychologist at an elementary school. At Solnit, I grew a passion for child psychology and psychiatry as well as an extreme interest in helping unprivileged and mentally ill children. Completing my internship here helped solidify what I want to do with my psychology degree - obtain a doctorate in psychiatry and help mentally ill children. It was also an eye-opening experience that helped me to learn how good my life is.
If you have been involved in community service projects, what project has been the most rewarding and why?
I think the most rewarding community service project I have been a part of is Relay for Life at my hometown high school. It is amazing to see the strength of the survivors and their support systems and all of the struggles they have made it through. They are so moved to see so many people out helping raise money for such a good cause - its an amazing thing to witness.
Name three things on your "bucket list".
1. Travel to Greece 2. Attend Firefly Music Festival 3. Learn to sail
Where do you see yourself in 10 years after graduation? What is your dream job?
Ten years after graduation, I would like to see myself settled down and happy with my career. I would love to be the head psychiatrist on a children's unit in a psychiatric hospital. I could also see myself working with athletes as a sports psychologist.
What would you say to someone currently in high school who is considering attending Endicott?
I would tell a current high school student to remember that networking is important, extremely important. It isn't about what you know but who you know. And in order to get to know those specific people, Endicott would be the best choice. They push you to put yourself out there, help you to be successful in your internships and want to see you succeed in the classroom as well as in the real world.
Is there something about you that we don't know? Tell is something special about yourself that we haven't asked!
I am definitely one of the loudest people you will ever meet...