October Student-Athlete Spotlight: Wellesley Field Hockey's Kerry Wells '20

Kerry Wells has been a stand out member of the Blue field hockey team both on the field and in the classroom since arriving at Wellesley. Earning a starting role in her first year, the junior defender has since remained an integral part of the Blue's backline. Off the turf, Wells has excelled academically as well as she was named to both the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference and NFHCA DIII National Academic Squad in 2017.

The Portland, Maine native always had a passion for politics, policy and helping people which led her to major in political science. Excited about pursuing a career in public service, Wells has taken advantage of all the opportunities the Wellesley political science department has opened up for her, including an undergraduate research assistant position at MIT and an internship on Capitol Hill. Wells recently took the time to speak with wellesleyblue.com to discuss how Wellesley College and her experiences as a student-athlete are preparing her to achieve her long-term goals.

What made you decide to attend Wellesley College? Did you always plan to play field hockey at the collegiate level?

I actually never planned on becoming a collegiate athlete, but late in my senior year of high school, I realized that it was something I had a desire to pursue. I ended up contacting the field hockey coach here, Julia King, because I was interested in coming to Wellesley anyway and I ended up walking on to the team. Wellesley was an easy choice for me because of the amazing academics, empowering atmosphere, and the multitude of opportunities available to students here. I can truly say that Wellesley is the place to be if you want to grow as a person, learn about yourself, and focus on the matters important to you.

Did you always know you wanted to major in political science? What do you like most about being a political science major at Wellesley?

I have always been passionate about politics, policy, and helping people. Political Science allows me to combine these passions into a career hopefully in public service. What I love most about Political Science at Wellesley is the incredible faculty and the very hands on approach to learning in the classroom. All of my major classes here have been discussion focused which has really broadened my perspective on issues in a way I never thought possible.

This past summer you had an internship with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, can you tell me a little bit about this internship opportunity?

This internship was a fantastic opportunity and honestly so much fun. Working in such a fast-paced environment made everyday different than the last. I had the most incredible experiences exploring the Capitol, making new friends, and hearing inspiring people like Nancy Pelosi and Ruth Bader Ginsburg speak through the Intern Lecture Series. I was able to get this opportunity through my persistence in wanting to find an internship that would best fit my career interests and goals. Needless to say, it paid off. This internship taught me so much about how the government functions and how important the decisions that are made there are. My responsibilities included legislative research, writing decision memos, compiling and presenting important news everyday, and some general office duties. My favorite part of this experience was having the knowledge that whatever I was doing, no matter how small, actually mattered and made a difference in the work that my office produced.  

This semester you have been working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. What are you researching and what is your role in this research?

I found this position through the Political Science Department at Wellesley, who advertised the position to majors. The research I am working on centers around the midterm elections; I am assessing the various motivations for candidates to run for office and what makes them successful/unsuccessful. To culminate this research, I am helping the professor plan a research conference which will include candidates, journalists, and academics.

How have you been able to balance your school work, field hockey and commuting to Cambridge for your research this fall?

Participating in all of these activities involves a lot of planning and time management. Everyday I have to plan out the tasks I need to complete. However,  I am lucky that a lot of my research takes place on my own time and in the comfort of my own campus. The professor I am working for has been really accommodating for the Wellesley students working on her project. I think that learning the time management skill and discipline necessary to be a successful student-athlete at Wellesley is one of the greatest gifts being a collegiate athlete has given me. These skills will definitely help me to be successful in the future.

What are some of the leadership positions you hold on campus? How do you think think these leadership positions are preparing you for life after Wellesley?

I am the Vice President of the Wellesley College Democrats. This experience has been a great way for me to get involved in another community on campus outside of athletics. In addition, I have served as a student representative on the Ruhlman Conference Planning Committee and I am a spin instructor on campus. These roles have challenged me and allowed me to meet so many people on campus and in the professional realm. Taking on leadership roles outside of athletics has allowed me to translate my leadership skills that I have learned on the field to other parts of my life. They have given me the confidence to lead, participate, and to not hold back in whatever I am passionate about.

What do you hope to do after graduating from Wellesley? How is Wellesley helping you to achieve those goals?

I hope to pursue a career in public service whether that be through working for a government agency or research. I also want to pursue graduate school after Wellesley either in my masters and/or a PhD. Wellesley has given me the academic and leadership tools to pursue anything I desire. Most importantly, Wellesley has taught me to be strong and to not doubt myself which I tribute to the incredibly empowering environment that is specific to all-women's colleges. Finally, the academic rigor here has taught me so much about hard work, perseverance, and discipline which will make me successful in whatever I do.

What is the best part about being a student-athlete at Wellesley College?

The athletic community is without a doubt the best part of being a student-athlete here. We are all each other's biggest supporters on and off the field. Wellesley is challenging and I would not be as successful in my endeavors here without the endless support from my teammates and other members of the athletic community.

Besides being a student athlete, what do you love most about Wellesley College?

I love how you can be anything you want here. You can tell anyone your wildest, craziest aspiration and they will believe in you and support you to make that dream come true. There are also so many resources here on campus that make a plethora of opportunities possible for any type of student.