Olivia Ostrover
Hometown: Greenwich, Conn.
Concentration: History & Science
House Affiliation: Leverett

When I committed to play field hockey at Harvard, I expected to be made into a better player. By the end of my four-year tenure, my skills had developed, but more importantly and unexpectedly, so had my character. Perhaps this had to do with being on an Ivy League team; we could not compete for as many hours as some of our competitors nor recruit just on the basis of athletics. Nevertheless, we competed as a top-program through exceptional teamwork. We had to be selfless, disciplined and consistent to beat teams that had more talent but relied upon it alone.  

However, I believe my transformation is owed to more than just playing a team sport. Harvard Athletics, and the people who comprise it, played perhaps the most crucial role of all. My head coach let me take classes that occasionally interfered with practice, acknowledged my academic achievements and supported me during times of personal struggle. My assistant coach showed up at an off-campus fundraiser I was hosting, just to cheer me on. Then Bob Scalise, the Athletic Director during my time, met with me on multiple occasions to see how he could back a group I had started on campus. And Jeff, our team's head of media, asked me to speak about a charity I was involved in for the Ivy League Network. All these individuals had a formal title under athletics, but they cared about so much more than how I developed as a player. They cared about me, Olivia, and who I was becoming off of the field.  

But now my time at Harvard Athletics has come to an end. As I look back, I will not remember the agonizing practices, the early morning lifts, nor the frustrating losses. In fact, I'm not so sure I will even remember the wins or earning my first Ivy League ring. But what I will always remember are the people- my coaches and my teammates. They showed me hard work but kindness, discipline but resilience. These are values that help win games, but they help you succeed at everything you do thereafter. So yes, Harvard Athletics made me a better field hockey player for four years, but they have made me a better person for life.