Oct. 13, 2009

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Each week, the staff at GoLeopards.com spotlights a student-athlete in a Q&A feature. For the first time this season, Spotted on Campus sat down with a rookie as freshman field hockey player Emily Valeo talked about adjusting to college life, doing her own laundry and more.

What's been your most interesting class or project so far this semester? Why? I'd have to say my First Year Seminar (FYS) is the most interesting so far. The class is called "Possibilities of Community and Challenging Differences." It's actually a very involved class, but I think that's why I love it. I enjoy the course because our group work extends beyond the classroom. We all participate in a service project each week in Easton, which allows me to stay connected with the community outside of campus.

Have you decided on a major or are you leaning towards a certain major? As of now, I'm still undecided. I'm using my freshmen year as a time to take different kinds of classes just to feel everything out and get a better sense of what is offered academically at Lafayette. When I'm asked what I plan to major, I try to narrow it down to a couple options, but I really just have no clue yet!

What was the biggest adjustment to college life? Waking up to the sound of my cell phone alarm, rather than the loud voice of my mother, was a big change. I'm used to being dragged out of bed, and now I have to motivate myself to get up. And laundry is a whole other story...on a more serious note, I'm still adjusting to the independence that I have here. I'm used to checking in with my parents about pretty much everything and now I don't do much of that anymore since I'm away, but I'm not complaining!

What is your role on the team? Position-wise, I play in the midfield and love that I have both a role in the offensive and defensive ends of the field. In regards to my role off the field, I'm still in the process of figuring that out. I think that my first season as a member of the team is a time for me to adjust to everything and find my place.

What is your earliest field hockey memory? When I was really little, I remember watching my older sisters play field hockey in the backyard. They taught me the game and I started to play because I wanted to be just like them!

Do you model yourself after any particular player? I don't have a specific player that I model myself after, but Remember the Titans, Miracle, Invincible and Hoosiers are my favorite sports films that have really inspired me! I am a big fan of players that are able to overcome adversity in order to find success. I also love the underdogs that don't fear going the extra mile to achieve what others deem impossible.

What can you take from your sport and incorporate into everyday life? From playing hockey and being part of a team, I've realized that nothing in life comes easily. A player can have great talent, but at the end of the day, "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." To find true success, you need to have passion and dedication.

My pregame ritual is... 5-hour energy shot (extra strength). Except I've now become immune to that and I just recently found out the exciting news that Wawa now offers 7-hour energy shots so we will see how that goes. Lately my fellow teammate Deanna DiCroce and I have been eating chicken salad hoagies and Doritos from Wawa for breakfast at 8 a.m. on our way to away games. Surprisingly, some people find that unusual. Whatever works!

What is the greatest thing you can learn from a loss? Losing makes a team realize that it can never settle. You can play great one game, but if you slack off at the next practice, you won't win the next game. A good team is never satisfied and always strives to improve and do better, because winning and losing are not determined by the team with the best skill, but rather the team with the most heart and determination.

What is your favorite activity outside of your sport? During the school year, classes and hockey combined take a lot out of you, so I really love to just hang out and relax with my friends and listen to music. During the summer when I'm not playing hockey as much, you'll find me on the beach all day!

The sport I'm worst at is... Swimming, without a doubt. I tried to be a lifeguard at the Jersey Shore and I passed all the conditioning tests except the swimming part--apparently swimming is a crucial part of life-guarding and I was told that I have no technique. So I figured from that point I should stick with hockey and go back to scooping ice cream for my summer job.

Best advice you ever received? No matter what the outcome, you can never ask any more of yourself than your best.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Greece!

You have an entire day to do whatever you want. Where do you go and what do you do? During the school year, I try to convince myself that sleep is overrated so that I can get a lot of work done. Therefore, if I had the option to go anywhere and do anything, I would go home and sleep all day in my real bed.

Something about me that others would be surprised to hear is... Basketball was my main sport and pretty much my entire life until sophomore year of high school. I realized that if I wanted to play in college I probably would have to commit myself fully to one sport. Removing myself from basketball was a difficult sacrifice, but when I think about the team that I'm now a part of here at Lafayette, I realize that it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself? Why? Meghan Fox...can't you see the resemblance?

Favorite Halloween Candy? Reese's

Favorite Halloween costume? Last year, I dressed up as Gilligan from Gilligan's Island.

Favorite midnight snack? Doritos and Peanut Butter Cup ice cream

TV show I can't stop watching... One Tree Hill, the Eagles, and the PHILLIES!!!

Song I can't stop listening to... Replay by Sean Kingston...It's like my my ipod's stuck on replay or something...

Favorite prank to pull (or you've seen pulled) on a teammate: Sorry, Meg and Ali, but Deanna and I don't have black belts in karate and Wan's gym does not exist.

Word Association:

Lafayette: Party in the USA...and Biology.

Lafayette Athletics: Leopards! And Keith.

Field Hockey: 24/7

Your coaches: Dedicated

Your teammates: The best. And really ridiculously good-looking.

Preseason: Sore!