Colleen Brady

Past Entries

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Entry 6

October 27, 2003

Last weekend, the dorms on campus looked particularly clean. A strange force vanquished unmade beds and cluttered desks.

Why did Emory students suddenly feel the need for cleanliness? Perhaps the flock of parents on campus for Family Weekend can explain the unique phenomenon.

The cross country team did not go without its share of familial visitors. We had a great crowd at dinner on Friday and at the Southeastern Classic race on Saturday. For those of us without guests, the other parents took over as pseudo-parents for the day, and they did an excellent job giving their hugs and support.

Seeing so many caring families reminded me of the importance of having a support network. All of us have committed a large part of our lives to athletics, but we did not make that commitment alone.

From the time of our first cross country/track meet, and continuing at the college level, our parents have contributed to our success. They have driven us across the country, spent hours in the cold for a quick glimpse at us in our racing uniforms, and they have encouraged us when we felt down.

Even though we may not call them every week, listen to their advice, or tell them how important they have been to us, our parents have been an important element of our lives. Particularly, as athletes, they have given us the support we need in order to perform the best we can.

So, to the parents who cheered for us at Berry College last Saturday, and to the parents who cheered from home, thank you for all you have done for us. The Emory cross country team would not function as well without you.

Colleen Brady is a junior from Jonesville, Mich. She would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.