Itzhak Petrosky-Harris '26 Recruiting Profile

So far, rowing has taught me four essential things about myself. The value of acceptance and challenges, the importance of loyalty, and my purpose.

My first practice ever was during a cold, windy, rainy day and we were on land. I was excited to be there and thought rowing was a good way for me to get in shape. At the end of practice, we did a game to see who could row 100 meters in the least amount of strokes. I was the only one to match the coach's count of five. For me, it meant so much because it was finally something I was good at. If it weren’t for that, I may never have gone back. 

Since then, rowing has taken up so much of my life through both my time and my thoughts. The simple idea that no one would dare to lighten up on the press because of everyone else in the boat both fascinates me and scares me at the same time. But it’s why I would choose rowing over everything, anywhere: because I know my double partner will do the same. It’s this level of loyalty that makes rowing so amazing.

For a while, I didn’t really know what I wanted out of rowing. I would go to practice, it would be fun, and I made friends, but I don’t think I would go purely to row. However, during the fall of 2022, I was lucky enough to be placed in the HOCR four in my freshman year of highschool. I remember rowing steady state during the practice day before the race and marveling at the gorgeous boathouses and trying to keep my head in the boat as I saw the collegiate eights row past us, with their grace, speed, precision, and power. It was while rowing under the Elliot Bridge, surrounded by the pure essence of the sport, when I decided: I was going to row in college.

Since then, I have surrounded my life around rowing to pursue that very goal. I’ve put in countless hours on the erg, without being asked to by my team, and watching hundreds of videos of excellent rowing to compare it to mine and make changes. I could never have enough feedback from my coaches, who said I was very coachable and that I was making changes rapidly. Every practice I pushed myself to improve my rowing by listening to my coaches and taking every stroke with intent. 

The next spring was challenging. I was in a four, wanting to win states with teammates who would prefer to have fun and talk during practice. I had no choice but to row with them, as our team was too small to have any other lineups. Nevertheless, I tried to do what I could to bond with my teammates and motivate everyone, despite letting my frustration slip out a few too many times. When states came, we placed 3rd. Of course, I wanted first, but I was happy with a medal. That was the day I learned the valuable lesson of acceptance. You can’t change anyone but yourself. This lesson has helped me everywhere I go.

A few months later, over the summer, I was complaining to my cousin who served in the Israeli army about my frustrations with my team and how I was thinking about switching clubs. His advice was life changing. He really drove home that I could literally do anything I wanted to. That it was up to me, and only me, to achieve my rowing dreams, with or without my teammates.  I could sit and complain, waiting for my team to change, or I could make a difference. It was then that I realized that I really could do anything, that my life was truly up to me.

That fall, I began to row in a double with my friend, and that was when my hard work started to pay off. We were level, our catches were fast, our finishes strong, and we started to place amongst nationals level boats. Our fall season was an amazing success. It was also when I began to find my purpose. I lived and breathed rowing. I also discovered the value of facing challenges head on, as it was through them that I began to succeed in the double.

Off the water, I began to explore my interest in psychology after struggling with anxiety and receiving help through therapy. I decided that I wanted to help people like me battling mental health and not receiving the help they needed. That was when my idea to become a psychologist was born. I switched into AP psychology as soon as I could, and thrived there. The class fascinated me, and my interest in the subject hasn’t gone away. 

It was through rowing and helping others that I found a sense of undying purpose, and through the lessons that rowing has taught me, I plan to follow through and achieve my fullest potential in college and beyond.