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Don't
thinks it's possible to juggle academics and athletics?
See how one student-athletic is proving the seemingly
unthinkable!
You Go Girl!
Student-Athlete Healy Thompson Does It All!
By Feona Sharhran Huff
March 2001
The CollegeBound Network NewsClick --
If there was such an award as 'The Who's Who Among
America's Outstanding College Student-Athletes
For 2001,' you'd probably find Healy F. Thompson's
name at the top of the recipient list. Not only
does this Williams College, Williamstown, MA,
sophomore participate in a multitude of campus
activities and compete with the best of 'em in
sports such as rugby, shot-put, hammers, and discus,
but Healy is also an honors student and a role
model. It's been this way from the moment she
stepped onto campus grounds.
Come the fall semester, 19-year-old Healy covers
up her shins, elbows, and face to protect her
body from injury. She needs the security, especially
since she plays rugby's fullback position (like
the safety in football), and sometimes wing (the
person who runs with the ball the most). Rugby,
by the way, is a cross between football and soccer.
Her athletic activity continues with indoor and
outdoor track. Since she participates in three
events, she has to do a lot of weight lifting
and plyometrics (jumping over hurdles and other
'quick explosive drills').
Practicing five days a week has reaped championship
benefits for her, too -- like last year when she
was named national champion for indoor shot-put,
and placed second for outdoor shot-put. Healy
also has campus-driven interests. As a discrimination
grievance advisor, she is responsible for helping
students come up with solutions to problems related
to faculty and professors, violations of school
policy, sexual harassment, among other issues.
Since her start, however, Healy hasn't had the
opportunity to assist anyone yet. "I guess
that's a good thing," she says. "Maybe
students aren't experiencing major problems. But,
we're here when they need us."
These days, Healy is also involved with the Williams
Feminist Alliance, where her activities include
working with a local theater to bring the film
Girlfight to the campus for a free screening;
raising money for singer Erin McKeown's upcoming
concert performance; and making T-shirts to celebrate
the 30-year anniversary of women being full-time
students at the college.
So what more could this college dynamo
do, you ask? Every couple of weeks she gets together
a 'buddy' for pizza, ice cream, and sometimes,
bowling as part of the school's 'Best Buddy Program.'
Healy's selfless act of sharing, caring, and bonding
with her 'buddy' makes up the core mission of
the program which matches college-aged students
with developmentally disabled adults in the community.
Healy was especially interested in becoming active
because she grew up with a close friend who had
a disability.
Healy also embraces little kids as a tutor at
Williamstown Elementary, where she spends six
hours a week helping second and fourth graders
with their math and science homework. "I've
always loved working with children," she
says enthusiastically. "[Seeing them] is
such a bright point in my day. I get to go there,
relax, and have fun with them. It's absolutely
wonderful." And, then there's her role as
a campus tour guide. "I love to show off
Williams College," exclaims Healy.
And, get this: With everything going on, she
still maintains a 3.3 GPA! "I do a lot of
homework during the day," she confesses.
"I also use Microsoft Outlook. It's an e-mail
server that allows me to program reoccurring events
on a calendar. There's no way I'd be able to remember
everything if I didn't have it. I've learned to
prioritize my life."
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