Northwestern University Athletics
Dear Northwestern: Melissa Postoll
6/12/2017 8:16:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Dear Northwestern,
When I chose Northwestern, I had no idea what was in store for me. I met some of the most brilliant people in the world along this journey, and I have been challenged in the classroom in ways I never imagined possible. But my Northwestern education has been so much more than just the countless hours in chemistry lab, neuroscience study sessions, office hours, and late nights in Main library that have molded me into an intelligent contributor to society. Northwestern also taught me to be a proper sports fan. If someone said the words "pick and roll" to me when I arrived on campus four years ago, I would have stared with the blankest of stares. I (foolishly) thought that the last two minutes of a basketball game were the only ones that were worth watching. If someone had asked me what a linebacker does, I am not confident that I would have even known they were speaking about football. I had no idea what 3-2 counts, poke checking, or back passes were- the list seems unending. That- thankfully- is no longer the case, and I feel so much gratitude for my fellow student-athletes across all 19 sports for giving Northwestern all of their heart and soul. Without their passion and dedication to inspire me and excite me about all Northwestern sports, I would still have that extensive list of unknowns.
The incredible amount of passion at Northwestern, whether that be in the athletic department or in the classroom, is impossible to avoid. It is simply contagious, and that beautiful infection fosters the sense of community and family that I feel every single day. Every time I got behind the blocks for a race, I would look around at my teammates, girls who became my closest friends and sisters. And every time, I felt the pride we all share for being Northwestern student-athletes; that solidarity gave me all the strength I could ever need to chase down my dreams. Through the ups and the downs in the pool and in the classroom over the past four years, I have never felt more love and support, which has allowed me to become an ambitious, passionate, and caring person who is ready to change the world.
I have grown so much as a person over the last four years, but that growth has simply been a reflection of the progress of our University. When I was a freshman, my major did not exist. Sir Fraser Stoddard had not won a Nobel Prize. LIGO had not detected gravitational waves. Men's basketball had never made the NCAA tournament. Women's diving had never had a national champion. Again, the list of impressive accomplishments just seems endless. (And, venturing outside of the University, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Cubs winning the World Series). It has been an incredible journey full of challenges and triumphs, and I am so grateful for the people of Northwestern for guiding me through it. In the wise words of Brian Baptiste, "You should always make sure that your next chapter is better than the last." Well, Brian, thanks to you, other administrators and staff, my coaches, professors, strength trainers, teammates, and so many others… This chapter is going to be pretty hard to beat.
As the saying goes, the N never comes off- and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sincerely,
Melissa Postoll
Northwestern Women's Swimming and Diving
When I chose Northwestern, I had no idea what was in store for me. I met some of the most brilliant people in the world along this journey, and I have been challenged in the classroom in ways I never imagined possible. But my Northwestern education has been so much more than just the countless hours in chemistry lab, neuroscience study sessions, office hours, and late nights in Main library that have molded me into an intelligent contributor to society. Northwestern also taught me to be a proper sports fan. If someone said the words "pick and roll" to me when I arrived on campus four years ago, I would have stared with the blankest of stares. I (foolishly) thought that the last two minutes of a basketball game were the only ones that were worth watching. If someone had asked me what a linebacker does, I am not confident that I would have even known they were speaking about football. I had no idea what 3-2 counts, poke checking, or back passes were- the list seems unending. That- thankfully- is no longer the case, and I feel so much gratitude for my fellow student-athletes across all 19 sports for giving Northwestern all of their heart and soul. Without their passion and dedication to inspire me and excite me about all Northwestern sports, I would still have that extensive list of unknowns.
The incredible amount of passion at Northwestern, whether that be in the athletic department or in the classroom, is impossible to avoid. It is simply contagious, and that beautiful infection fosters the sense of community and family that I feel every single day. Every time I got behind the blocks for a race, I would look around at my teammates, girls who became my closest friends and sisters. And every time, I felt the pride we all share for being Northwestern student-athletes; that solidarity gave me all the strength I could ever need to chase down my dreams. Through the ups and the downs in the pool and in the classroom over the past four years, I have never felt more love and support, which has allowed me to become an ambitious, passionate, and caring person who is ready to change the world.
I have grown so much as a person over the last four years, but that growth has simply been a reflection of the progress of our University. When I was a freshman, my major did not exist. Sir Fraser Stoddard had not won a Nobel Prize. LIGO had not detected gravitational waves. Men's basketball had never made the NCAA tournament. Women's diving had never had a national champion. Again, the list of impressive accomplishments just seems endless. (And, venturing outside of the University, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Cubs winning the World Series). It has been an incredible journey full of challenges and triumphs, and I am so grateful for the people of Northwestern for guiding me through it. In the wise words of Brian Baptiste, "You should always make sure that your next chapter is better than the last." Well, Brian, thanks to you, other administrators and staff, my coaches, professors, strength trainers, teammates, and so many others… This chapter is going to be pretty hard to beat.
As the saying goes, the N never comes off- and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sincerely,
Melissa Postoll
Northwestern Women's Swimming and Diving
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