BETSY BRUNKOW:
Senior Betsy Brunkow is evidence that when one is dedicated, great things happen. She has played soccer throughout high school both at Peninsula High School and on her club team, West Narrows. She has been captain of the varsity team during her junior and senior years and also serves as ASB senior senator and is a member of National Honors Society with a 3.97 GPA.
She has yet to decide where to attend college but is applying at the University of Washington, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Western Washington University. “I plan to continue kicking it on the soccer field through intramural sports,” she said.
Betsy would like to pursue a career in the field of health and is interested in becoming a pediatrician. “I am also very interested in majoring in nutrition and dietetics to become a clinical dietician because nutrition and exercise are a big part of my life,” said Betsy.
She said one of the things she enjoys most about soccer is the family she has made along the way.
“There’s a special bond between teammates when you have to rely on and trust each other playing on the field,” she said.
She is grateful for the lessons soccer has taught her, especially what it means to be a team player. “Soccer has taught me it takes a team to succeed…it has taught me to work hard, communicate and focus on doing my job to the best of my ability which (is something) I can apply to other aspects of my life.”
Photo by Tina Rollins.
SELENA DUTTON:
Volleyball has taught senior Selena Dutton more than the fundamentals of the sport; it has provided her with life lessons.
“One of my coaches always said, ‘if you don’t like it, change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it,’” said Selena. “I think this is a great way to live your life because it will end up making you a happier person.”
Selena is in the running start program and has a 3.79 GPA. She is committed to play volleyball at Humboldt State University where she plans to pursue a career in the medical or dental field.
“Ever since fourth grade, I knew I wanted to be a orthodontist or anesthesiologist, but my career path has broadened since then, but I still consider those as options,” said Selena.
Selena shares that one of the biggest challenges has been having confidence in herself.
“I think confidence and mental toughness are 80 percent of volleyball, or any sport really, and the majority of athletes struggle with this component of the game,” she said.
Being involved in sports has taught her that she cannot be in control of everything.
“A quote I have learned from volleyball is ‘good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best,’” said Selena. “I also try to keep this in my life as much as I can, with school, volleyball etc. With school I shoot for the highest grade I can, and I don’t except anything less of myself. With volleyball I know I can always be better, so why not work hard to get as good as I possibly can?”