Charlotte Grose '21 Recruiting Profile

There are some moments in life, when one truly appreciates the many privileges and opportunities they have experienced. I vividly remember such a moment from my first season of Crew, the Spring of Freshman year. I was competing on the Freshman 8 boat that season and as the season progressed we competed at Virginia States. We qualified for Finals, and that single race, 6 seat on the freshman 8, truly changed my life. I will forever remember that feeling of crossing the finish line, unsure of the results due to such a close end, but thinking that regardless of what we had placed or the pain I was in, it was all worth it. That sense of passion is not something you can teach within a classroom or learn from within a book, and it is what has driven my desire to continue crew into college.

Rowing is truly one of the most extraordinary and rewarding experiences of my life. Crew has shown me many valuable life skills, particularly demonstrating how hard-work and dedication will always pay off. In addition to opening my eyes to such values, crew has provided me with a family who supports and helps me through all aspects of my life. For such I will always be grateful, not just for these skills, but for the life philosophy I have come to adopt. This philosophy aims not for the success brought through winning, but the success earned through resilience, dedication, and grit. Hard-work and dedication have helped guide me through life, and I am so thankful for the many life experiences that have helped develop such traits. The idea of setting yourself limitations or boundaries to what you can accomplish is non-existent within Crew. My favorite aspect of this sport is the concept that if you break down those limitations others have set for you, overcome the fears of pain or failure, and if you dedicate yourself 100%, then you can truly accomplish anything.

In addition to crew, I am also very passionate about my academics. I love to learn and a thirst for knowledge has always driven me to participate in more rigorous classes and consistently apply myself to the development of my education. Between my academic life and crew schedule, I have generated many valuable time-management skills and have developed an understanding of how to live a more balanced life.