North Carolina State University Athletics
Sisterhood with Lauren: Commitment through Competition
11/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
By: Lauren Barry
Lauren is one of three seniors on this year's Wolfpack women's tennis team. Throughout the year, Allison, Lauren, and Agustina will be posting weekly blogs about what it is like to be a member of a Division I athletic team including personal insights on competition and experiences shared amongst the team. The blog's title, Sisterhood, has an important meaning to the team. Each player does not only consider themselves teammates but part of a sisterhood where they will learn to share four years of their lives with other student-athletes from all around the world who enjoy playing tennis and having the opportunity to be part of the Wolfpack.
In addition to being a member of the NC State women’s tennis team, I am a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, in short-hand known as SAAC.
Every year, one or two student-athletes are chosen from each sports team to represent their fellow teammates in this committee. This group is assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience and input on rules, regulations and policies that affect the athletes in their sport and in the classroom.
“Presently, there are separate national SAAC’s for NCAA Divisions I, II and III. NCAA legislation mandates that all member institutions have a SAAC committee on their respective campuses and all member conferences” (The National Collegiate Athletic Association).
Once a month, I meet with 38 other student–athletes to discuss current issues, concerns, and joys associated with NC State Athletics. I have seen the strong relationship student-athletes have with one another and with the athletic department. I have also seen how this group has been a powerful force for change in our community.
One way this shown is through an ImPACK “Life Skills” program established by our SAAC committee two years ago. This program is designed to support the total development of NC State student-athletes through five major components: academic, athletic, career development, personal development, and service.
To encourage our best performance in each of these five areas, the ImPACK program was created on the basis of – what better for student-athletes than competition? This friendly competition is created among all of the varsity sports teams and every month SAAC members record the number of NC State teams they supported, community service opportunities they engaged in, descriptions of academic and athletic accolades and accomplishments achieved, and “above and beyond” events or programs in which they were involved. Every recorded item that is received is given a designated number of points and at the end of the year the team with the most points claims the title of the ImPACK winner.
To receive the most points in any of these areas, a team has to get over 80 percent of its members together to participate in an event or program. For us, our team unity has been reflected through our strength in this ImPACK competition and has been a large factor for placing in the top three standings for the past two years. But this year we are determined to break even higher and reach the number one spot.
With almost a semester under our belt, the women’s tennis team is currently in the lead. We have put on a Smash Bash event, we have welcomed the Special Olympic Athletes of Wake County to the JW Isenhour Tennis Complex and participated in their Fall Games in High Point, decorated a tennis float in order to join in the Homecoming parade, and more.
Through this program and our coaches’ belief in helping others, we are motivated to make a difference in our community. But to start we realized the only way to be successful in this endeavor, and in life, is to come together as one.
This unity exemplifies our Sisterhood slogan and our meaning of S.I.S.T.E.R.S. – Sisterhood Involves Standing Together with Enthusiasm, Respect, and Support.
Lauren is one of three seniors on this year's Wolfpack women's tennis team. Throughout the year, Allison, Lauren, and Agustina will be posting weekly blogs about what it is like to be a member of a Division I athletic team including personal insights on competition and experiences shared amongst the team. The blog's title, Sisterhood, has an important meaning to the team. Each player does not only consider themselves teammates but part of a sisterhood where they will learn to share four years of their lives with other student-athletes from all around the world who enjoy playing tennis and having the opportunity to be part of the Wolfpack.
In addition to being a member of the NC State women’s tennis team, I am a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, in short-hand known as SAAC.
Every year, one or two student-athletes are chosen from each sports team to represent their fellow teammates in this committee. This group is assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience and input on rules, regulations and policies that affect the athletes in their sport and in the classroom.
“Presently, there are separate national SAAC’s for NCAA Divisions I, II and III. NCAA legislation mandates that all member institutions have a SAAC committee on their respective campuses and all member conferences” (The National Collegiate Athletic Association).
Once a month, I meet with 38 other student–athletes to discuss current issues, concerns, and joys associated with NC State Athletics. I have seen the strong relationship student-athletes have with one another and with the athletic department. I have also seen how this group has been a powerful force for change in our community.
One way this shown is through an ImPACK “Life Skills” program established by our SAAC committee two years ago. This program is designed to support the total development of NC State student-athletes through five major components: academic, athletic, career development, personal development, and service.
To encourage our best performance in each of these five areas, the ImPACK program was created on the basis of – what better for student-athletes than competition? This friendly competition is created among all of the varsity sports teams and every month SAAC members record the number of NC State teams they supported, community service opportunities they engaged in, descriptions of academic and athletic accolades and accomplishments achieved, and “above and beyond” events or programs in which they were involved. Every recorded item that is received is given a designated number of points and at the end of the year the team with the most points claims the title of the ImPACK winner.
To receive the most points in any of these areas, a team has to get over 80 percent of its members together to participate in an event or program. For us, our team unity has been reflected through our strength in this ImPACK competition and has been a large factor for placing in the top three standings for the past two years. But this year we are determined to break even higher and reach the number one spot.
With almost a semester under our belt, the women’s tennis team is currently in the lead. We have put on a Smash Bash event, we have welcomed the Special Olympic Athletes of Wake County to the JW Isenhour Tennis Complex and participated in their Fall Games in High Point, decorated a tennis float in order to join in the Homecoming parade, and more.
Through this program and our coaches’ belief in helping others, we are motivated to make a difference in our community. But to start we realized the only way to be successful in this endeavor, and in life, is to come together as one.
This unity exemplifies our Sisterhood slogan and our meaning of S.I.S.T.E.R.S. – Sisterhood Involves Standing Together with Enthusiasm, Respect, and Support.
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