The 2016 Rams Reflect is the first in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of Suffolk teams have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Suffolk.
For a complete listing of the 2016 Rams’ Reflections, click here.
Nicole Isakson, Softball | Hometown: Avon, Conn. | Major: Business
Playing softball for the Rams is something I could not be more grateful for. Coming into my freshman year at Suffolk, I had no intention of playing softball or any college sport. I've always loved playing softball, but thought to play college softball you had to be the best and be recruited by the best. February of my freshman year Coach Davis was in need of more softball players and asked if I wanted to join the team. I made the best decision of my college career that day when I said yes.
It is not easy walking onto a team when you haven't been recruited and the coach and team know nothing about your skills on the field. Once I am committed to something, I put everything I have into it. For the past four years I have worked hard to better my softball skills with the goal of being the best player I can be. My team and the coaches have helped me realize that I am capable of so much more than I ever thought possible. This is one of the reasons I am truly thankful to have been giving this opportunity.
Three years ago the softball team had 11 players. Everyone played more than one position and some people moved around the field every game day or didn't know where they were playing until moments before. We still managed to go all the way to the GNAC championship that year where Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) won the trophy right in front of us. That was the day I finally understood what it could be like to win the GNAC tournament. That was the day I realized how good it can feel to win. Now, every season we start off with our goal, to win the GNAC championship and prove to ourselves and everyone else that we can win it all.
The team has gained and lost a lot of players over the past four years, but coach has helped create a culture for us to play in that doesn't change. I have enjoyed playing with a team that has such great talent and a passion for this sport. From them I have learned there is a difference between playing to play and playing to win and the latter is much more satisfying. I am happy to call my teammates my friends, my supporters, my cheerleaders and people who I have such great memories to share with. I could also not be more thankful to the coaches I have had who have helped me reach a higher potential than I ever thought possible. Coach Davis gave me a chance years ago and I have never taken that opportunity for granted. I thank her and my teammates for believing in me when I struggled to believe in myself. After four years, they have helped me believe that I was always meant to play softball for the Rams. I plan to make my last season as a Ram the best and finally win that trophy!