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Chelsea Weir
Robin Weinstein

Women's Soccer Ava Yurchison, Athletic Communications Intern

Senior Spotlight: Five Questions with Chelsea Weir

New Paltz athletic communications intern Ava Yurchison caught up with senior Chelsea Weir of the New Paltz women's soccer team for the week two release of the 2015-16 Senior Spotlight series that will have a new senior interviewed every Monday.

Q: Why did you choose to come to New Paltz?
A: "I chose to come to New Paltz because everything about this school gave me the perfect image of where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. To me, New Paltz was home. It is the ideal distance from where I live on Long Island, the academic programs offered are endless, the town is wonderful and the best part is that I even get to play the sport that I love and have so much passion for: soccer. Also, I received an academic scholarship here. Looking back on it now, New Paltz was everything that I ever wanted."

Q: Who inspires you to be the player you are?
A: "As a soccer player, my thought process has always been to give everything that I have each second in every practice and every game. You have to leave it all on the field and live in the moment because you never know what could happen next. I learned these important lessons during high school and my first year of college when two tragedies occurred. Two of my teammates that I considered family took their own lives. Each separate time, the breaking news hit me harder than anything before, and I just couldn't believe it. They were both amazing soccer players, but even better people. So when you ask me who inspires me to be the player that I am, I would have to say Lexi and Bridget, my two incredible teammates that push me to perform the best that I can in order to make them proud. Each game I play, I play for them because I know that they are always watching over me. Before I take the field, I mark my wrist with their initials and their numbers in Sharpie to represent the impact that they had on my life. Each of them had a saying that they always said: 'Give Everything But Up' and 'No Regrets.' I live by these words now and will carry them with me forever."

Q: Can you elaborate on your experience in Panama?
A: "Words cannot fully explain how incredibly special my trip to Panama was because it opened my eyes and allowed me to understand a culture different than my own. I am so honored to have been able to help the community of La Yeguada, but in reality, this experience and the people there have touched my life forever. I can't thank them enough for showing me the simple things in life, such as happiness and family, but also for teaching me the true meaning of the expression that 'giving is truly better than receiving.' They have made my life so much better in every way and gave me many amazing memories that will never be forgotten. I was able to make a difference in someone else's life by the littlest things, such as playing soccer with all of the kids, providing medicine for people who were sick and could not afford treatment and even making a woman feel special on her birthday by buying a cake and singing to her in both Spanish and English. Many people would say that they were the lucky ones because we came to help them, but in fact, I was the real lucky one since I met a community that gave me more than I could ask for. They surrounded me with love and acceptance that made me feel like I was a part of something greater than life."

Q: What are you going to miss the most once you leave New Paltz?
A: "I would have to say that I am going to miss being a Hawk the most. These past four years flew by, and although an end always has to come, the friendships and bonds that I made with my teammates will last forever. It's never easy saying goodbye to the people and the things that you love, but no matter what, New Paltz will always be my second home. As we all know: 'Once a Hawk, always a Hawk,' and that will never change."

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: "After graduation, I plan on attending graduate school for a physician assistant program. My top school, as of now, is Stony Brook, and I will continue to work hard in order to achieve this. I also want to join a women's soccer league so that I can keep playing the sport that has shaped my life and made me who I am today."
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Players Mentioned

Chelsea Weir

#22 Chelsea Weir

M
5' 6"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Chelsea Weir

#22 Chelsea Weir

5' 6"
Senior
M