"So how did you get involved with the Rowing Team?"

I asked Elizabeth Mitchell this question as we made our way from the Bell Tower to Carmichael Arena. Carmichael is a special place for Elizabeth. It's where she spent numerous hours training for rowing competitions. When the team wasn't on Jordan Lake, they were in the basement of Carmichael. This is a place that many athletes hold near and dear to their UNC experiences.

Elizabeth's athletic journey was particularly interesting to hear about, especially since our high school (yes, we both went to the same school!) didn't offer after-school sports. Elizabeth studied guitar at the UNC School of the Arts. While we didn't cross paths while studying our arts, our paths had a lot in common. We're both from Winston-Salem, we participated in the "commuter club" (basically living off campus at a dormitory high school), and we're both Tar Heels.

How does one become the captain of an athletic team when their high school doesn't offer sports?

Elizabeth played field hockey on the side when she wasn't practicing her guitar. In the early days of her freshman year at UNC, an announcement circulated to those who were in her same position: Anyone who played a sport in high school and wasn't recruited for a particular team was invited try out for the UNC Rowing Team. And Elizabeth said "why not" to this opportunity! That opportunity led her to a memorable senior year: leading the rowing team as the captain during a memorable season.

The Rowing Team has seasons in both the fall and the spring, so luckily this team had a decent amount of competition this 2019-2020 year. However, Elizabeth is experiencing the reality that most senior athletes are facing: the abrupt ending to the athletic careers. I cannot imagine the feeling of leaving for spring break and then suddenly hearing the news that a part of your life has come to an end. As a very sentimental person (probably explains why I adore the hobby of photography), I would calculate the lasts: the last time I went to my locker, the last time I put on my jersey, the last time I hugged my teammates before a game, or the last time I sang "Hark the Sound" with my community...However, Elizabeth reflected on her season with joy, gratitude, and perseverance. She's not looking back while wishing she could go back. She's already making plans for her bright future. This is a trait from UNCSA alumni that is standard across every art: the ability to transform hardships into stepping stones for what's next.