Mr. Barta and President Mason, In 2009 you asked me to deliver a speech to the entire Athletic Department at the University of Iowa about my experiences through my college career. Today, I found that speech. I want you to read it again, everything I said on that day in February remains true. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello! I’m Caroline Blaum. I was a member of the Iowa Field hockey team for 5 years and I graduated from the University of Iowa in December. About a week ago I received an email to come speak to all of you. It asked me to deliver to you, as follows… “Please tell your story about your experience at Iowa; why you came here, how difficult or easy the transition was and what your experience here has done for you, etc. I should be honest; I have answered this question hundreds of times before. It never gets old. I could talk for hours on end about how wonderful the University of Iowa is, and I will tell anyone who will listen. Lucky for me I was given this audience, all of you, who I’m pretty sure, will agree with most everything I have to say. I thank you in advance for calming my nerves. I can’t think of a better time to talk to you all about this topic. I have officially completed that “month, post graduation” where you feel like, “I’m done…now what?” I haven’t had that moment yet, and aside from the papers, presentations and tutors I don’t feel “done” at all. I just started! I have the university of Iowa and all of you to thank for this feeling. I first came to Iowa from Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania as a junior on an unofficial visit. I was in Hawkeye country for no longer than half an hour when I decided I was meant to be a Hawk. I know its cliché, I know you’ve heard it all before, but it was that feeling. The feeling they talk about when you just know. I knew! The coaching staff and the team set the tone immediately. There’s a family out here in IOWA. A family that I wanted desperately to belong to. I had visited a number of places prior to making the trip to Iowa City. I gave the ACC their shot. They claimed to be field hockey’s finest. While the play was great, that wasn’t everything I was looking for. I wasn’t convinced. Not by the entire package. The Iowa hockey team PRIDES itself on tradition, work ethic and respect for ourselves and everyone we represent. The ACC didn’t even come close. I was told that I would have to work harder than I had ever worked before; I was told there were rules, and guidelines that had really never been broken or compromised in anyway. I was told that I could achieve everything I wanted so long as a bought into the program and the ideals of the coaching staff. What put me over the edge was the fact that each of these things was explained to me by the girls, my future teammates. It was obvious that Tracey Griesbaum and Lisa Cellucci had instilled this Hawkeye mentality but they also managed to create an environment where the team had full trust in what was expected. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the rest of the institution followed suit. Very early on in my freshman year, I was introduced to the Gerdine Athletic Learning Center. If you add up the number of hours I spent in that building, you could account for a large portion of my college experience. And, if you add up the number of times Dr, Peter Grey had to shhhhh me in that building… it accounts for pretty much the rest of my college experience. Now, Pete and everyone else working over in the Learning Center should probably cover their ears for this part, It might ruin my “rep”… Ask me today if it work? Absolutely. I grew as a student in those study rooms. I improved in the classroom in ways I didn’t believe possible 5 years ago. And I have everyone in the LC to thank for this. The support we receive as student athletes far surpasses anything my family and I had first thought possible. Just when we thought it couldn’t get much better, we learned that field hockey would have a brand new home in 2005. The New Grant field would become the most amazing turf field I have ever had the privilege of playing on. Due in large part to the really sweet black turf that Lisa Loves, ask her about it, I think she could talk for hours! With “New Grant” came a new locker room, new training room and a brand new indoor turf… for the unpredictable Iowa weather. The appreciation I have for all of this is something I cannot seem to put into words, other than thank you! A week ago today, 7 high school senior field hockey players signed a piece of paper, a piece of paper that signifies a commitment that lasts, not only 4-5 years, but for the rest of our lives. I would give anything to sign that piece of paper all over again. There is one moment in my college career that stands out as the a day that proved this, that I had made the right decision. I had come off the 2006 summer more fit and prepared than any preseason prior. With 10 minutes left in the warm up of our first game of the season I made an awkward turn on the turf and tore my ACL, MCL and meniscus. For the first time, field hockey was ripped from my college experience. I realized during this point in time that even if I couldn’t play hockey I would still want to be at Iowa. I know I could stand up here for hours and tell you the dozens of reasons why I came to Iowa but to be honest, what you really deserve to know, is the one question I haven’t really answered before. What has Iowa Done For Me? First of all, very simply, Iowa drew me to my first ever Rowing match, game, Iowa also taught me that they were known as regattas, since being at Iowa I have learned more about wrestling than I ever thought I would and I bragged about it back home, I have witnessed one of the greatest hail Mary passes in HAWKEYE football Bowl history in 2004, I have been practically roommates with a volleyball and soccer player who I consider two of my very best friends, I have discovered that golf, is nothing like field hockey and that I’m not very good at it, I had semesters where I looked forward to early morning classes in the field house for the opportunity to witness men’s and women’s swimming and diving hard at work, I saw my first gymnastics meet and then went back or more, I lost my voice screaming at the basketball games, I have class with some of the fastest and most dynamic runners I have ever met, one year, I caught a t shirt at the softball game and baseball game in the same weekend, I have shared a facility with men’s and women’s tennis and have since gained a new found appreciation for footwork and agilities. Iowa has fed my competitive nature in a way that allowed me to achieve new heights I only prayed for long ago. It has taken me from an average student to one with an understanding of learning styles and the ability to work to my strengths. Most importantly, Iowa has provided me with relationships that will last the rest of my life. Most significantly, through this experience I was introduced to the two greatest mentors of my life. Two women who know the game of field hockey better than anyone I have come in contact with. But what I will remember and take with me are the lessons and our experiences that have nothing to do with our sport. I have watched Tracey and Lisa carry themselves with the utmost professionalism, all the while maintaining a family style environment that keeps young women coming out to Iowa City to see what all the fuss is about. You’re doing something right out here in Iowa, It was only a matter of time before the big ten tournament championships started happening; It was only a matter of time that Iowa finally returned to the final four. And represent, we did, because those two women showed us how. They deserved this. I learned that to be a coach you have to know and believe in a lot more than just a sport. It takes recognizing that Iowa City is a long way from Wiles-Barre Pennsylvania. It was with these experiences Iowa has opened my eyes to the world of competition and athletics outside of my familiar Grant Field. Iowa left its mark for me. I hope to one-day coach at the collegiate level. I learned from the very best, across the board. I want to provide young women within the sport of field hockey with a collegiate experience that comes half as close to what mine has been. When I received that email a week ago, with the opportunity to speak to you today, I was in Chula Vista California waiting for my second session of practice to start. I have spent the last month training with the US Women’s National Field hockey team. It was something I told Tracey and Lisa I wanted more than anything that was almost 6 years ago. I had no idea what I was in for once I signed Caroline Blaum on that sheet of paper. For this, and so much more, I thank all of you!
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 19:15:34 +0000
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