Julia Dumais (Softball, Princeton University) grew up in Buffalo. HelloNation asks student athletes one question about the place that raised them and records the answer on camera. This is Julia Dumais’s, in full.
The question
Tell us about a teacher or mentor from high school who challenged you the most or inspired you in a way that still shapes who you are today. Who are they, and what lesson from them do you carry into your life now?
The answer, as recorded
Transcript. What follows is a transcript of the video above, in Julia Dumais’s own words. It has not been rewritten, and no part of it was drafted for them.
Hi, my name is Julie Domain. I play softball at Princeton University, and one mentor who has had the biggest impact on me is probably my Trump softball coach, Craig Leone. He coached me from the time I was 12 years old until I probably graduated high school, and even to this day he's still the best coach I've ever had. And what made Craig different wasn't just his knowledge and IQ of the game, it was the way he reminded us of what really mattered. In such a competitive environment where it's easy to get caught up in rankings and the statistics and pressure, Craig's always brought us back to the basics. He taught us to focus on the simple things, you know, being a great teammate, playing the game the right way, and competing with confidence, and most importantly, just having fun. You know, one lesson Craig that has told me in numerous times and stayed with me is the value of being versatile. He never wanted players to limit themselves to one position or one role within the team, and because of that mindset I became someone who embraced doing whatever my team needed. You know, that versatility ended up shaping my college career at Princeton, where I started at three different positions and was fortunate enough to earn all IB recognition at each of them. And looking back, I don't think I would have had those opportunities if Craig hadn't encouraged me to, you know, be adaptable and trust my ability early on in my career. And even after college, you know, in the summers, Craig never stopped being a mentor. Every summer he welcomed all of his former players back to compete in tournaments together. You know, those weekends were never about proving ourselves, they're about reconnecting, enjoying the game, and remembering why we fell in love with softball in the first place. And after a long college season, these tournaments were always a reminder that being an athlete is so much more, you know, it's about so much more than just the wins and awards or the statistics. And the lesson I carry with me from Craig is simple, you know, never lose sight of why you play. Because success comes and goes, but your love for the game, your willingness to help your team, you know, in any way, and, you know, the joy you bring to the field are what truly last. And that's something I'll carry with me long after playing, you know, in this sport.
Recorded by HelloNation as part of its athlete voices program and published by Hello Newswire, HelloNation’s good news newswire. The words are the speaker’s own.
Reported by Hello Newswire.