NCAA DIII Week Student-Athlete Profile: Carina Chen, Tennis
WELLESLEY, Mass. -- This weekend, Wellesley College tennis will end NCAA Division III Week by competing for the annual Seven Sisters Tennis Championship when they face long-time rivals Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Smith and Vassar in South Hadley, Mass. With the Blue in search of their first Seven Sisters title in tennis since 2014, today's Division III Week focus is on Carina Chen (Hong Kong), a senior co-captain of the Blue tennis team from Hong Kong.
What Academic Accomplishment are you most proud of during your time at Wellesley?
I'm most proud of being able to pick myself up after a rough sophomore year. That year was very difficult for me in terms of finding balance between my academics, athletics, and other personal crises that seemed to be popping up out of nowhere. I could have gotten caught in a downward spiral, but instead I decided to make junior fall a turning point. It would be inaccurate for me to say that pulling myself out of that slump was easy, but it definitely provided hard evidence for the belief that anyone can overcome anything with hard work and perseverance!
What Athletic Accomplishment are you most proud of during your time at Wellesley?
Individually, I am very proud of going all the way to NCAA Nationals my first year with my doubles partner at the time, Sojung Lee. I had known Sojung from middle school, and it was such a great and fun experience to get to play with her again my first and sophomore years. That said, I am also extremely proud of my fellow seniors on the team and how far we've come from our very first year. When we first arrived at Wellesley, there were only two returning members and six of us on a small team of eight. Now there are only four of us on a large team of eleven, but we've stuck together through thick and thin and have managed to help foster the team to be what it is today.
What Leadership and/or Community Involvement projects have you been involved with?
I have served on two different executive boards for organizations related to mental health and psychology (Active Minds and Psychology Club, respectively). I am also a contributing writer for Wellesley's HerCampus chapter, an online publication showcasing life at college and at Wellesley specifically. Last year, I was co-captain of the Tennis team with Emily Olson, and this year I am co-captain with Andjela Stojkovic. Independently, a high school classmate and I have continued to sponsor two children at a school in Thailand, who we met on a service trip through my high school.
What has your experience as a Wellesley student-athlete meant to you?
As a student-athlete at Wellesley, you gain a wealth of lifelong skills. On the tennis court, you learn perseverance, mental toughness and physical endurance. While off the court, you learn time management skills, prioritization, and the basics of responsibility. That being said, I also believe that the team and its dynamic can also really make a student-athlete's experience so much more incredible. People have often said to me that it's the relationships and the memories that will stay with you beyond your college experience, and I wholeheartedly agree. The relationships and memories that I've made with my teammates at Wellesley have been some of the best, and I'm very thankful for them!
NCAA Division III Week on WellesleyBlue.com:
Monday, April 3: NCAA DIII Week Begins With Visit From Louise McCleary '87, Director of NCAA DIII
Tuesday, April 4: Fencing Alumna Zsofia Schweger '12 Named To Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe
Wednesday, April 5: #EarnTheW Day Returns Wednesday at Blue Lacrosse, Softball and Tennis
Thursday, April 6: Video: Wellesley Crew Meets Hillary Rodham Clinton '69
Friday, April 7: NCAA DIII Week Student-Athlete Profile: Carina Chen, Tennis
Saturday, April 8: 'Seven Sisters Saturday'
Sunday, April 9: Current Student-Athlete Profile
Links & Resources:
NCAA Division III: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
Wellesley Athletics: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram