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Claire
Reyes considered several colleges. Her high school hockey coach
convinced her to consider Longwood.
She
wanted to enter the field of physical therapy, and, once she looked
at the college, she discovered the P.E. major and exercise science
concentration would start her on the way to her goal.
Claire
applied. She was offered a hockey scholarship by Nancy Joel, Longwood's
field hockey coach, and decided to take it. She says, "It just
kind of clicked." Claire declared her major in physical education
with a concentration in exercise science. She was accepted into
the Longwood Honors program and carried the maximum of 18 credit
hours for all but her final semester.
Field
Hockey was a major part of Claire's life at Longwood. In her junior
year the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) awarded
her First Team All-American. She also was captain of the Field
Hockey team that year as well as her senior season. In her final
season, the team won the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC)
championship and Claire was selected as the 2000-2001 Longwood
Female Athlete of the Year. "A great year for our team. It was
a very good note to end my career on."
 Claire
interned and volunteered during her summer vacations from school.
The summer before her junior year she interned at the Cardiac
Fitness Center at Virginia Beach General Hospital as a part of
her exercise science concentration. While interning and volunteering,
Claire purposely encountered many age groups to help her decide
with whom she wanted to work.
Last
summer she volunteered at the Children's Hospital of the King's
Daughters in Virginia Beach, where she decided she wants to work
with children: "When I was at the children's hospital that's when
I realized that's what I wanted to do." This experience led Claire
to specialize in children's physical
therapy.
In
addition to volunteering and interning, Claire was a camp counselor
at the field hockey camp she once attended. She is amazed that
some of the kids she counseled are now looking to her for advice
on colleges. She was giving back some of what she gained while
attending this camp in her youth.
In
the fall semester of her senior year, Claire added to her full
schedule five hours of volunteer work at Southside Community Hospital.
She finally decided to slow down during her last semester
taking 13 credit hours, volunteering at Stepping-Stones day care
center, and teaching aerobics. She says, "I have to keep busy."
In
May Claire graduated from Longwood, leaving her hockey career
behind. She says, "I will miss it. It definitely kept me organized.
It was the core of my life for 10 years." Next fall Claire will
attend the Medical College of Virginia, working toward her graduate
degree in physical therapy. MCV will be a big change from life
at Longwood, but Claire says, "I don't think it will take long
to adjust." She is a little "nervous. It will definitely be a
new level."
Even
though Claire is leaving her Longwood family, she is certain she
will be all right. "That's one thing college has taught me
open yourself to new experiences."
Celeste
Card '02
Public
Relations Intern
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