Lily Shehadi '15 Recruiting Profile

There's some sort of gratification behind being the smallest, but the loudest. The 5ft tall leader, who the rowers and coaches alike rely on and trust. And though I'm half their size, all the rowers respect me and listen -not only because I am a coxswain, but because I've earned it as a teammate. 

As a coxswain, my job isn't just to blab into the microphone and keep the boat moving straight. It's my responsibility to make sure the boat I'm in is going as fast through the water as it possibly can. Because if you think about it most boats have plenty of power per stroke, it's whether they are using it efficiently or not that would send them flying into first place, or fumbling into last. My job is to make sure they are efficient and powerful. That was the difference at the 2013 Head of the Charles that had my Varsity Girls 4, though not the tallest or most muscular girls on the course, fly past several boats and by less than half a second, we were able to take 3rd.

There is a lot expected of us coxswains, and at the end of the day winning or losing by less than a second would be on my shoulders. But it's the challenge of being a part of a team written off as underdogs, and the sweet victory coming out on top, that keeps me coming back to cox. It's the comradery I feel with my rowers, the dedication of never missing a practice, the intensity thick in the air during every piece, and the wisdom I am know for that transforms even the worst rowers into serious competitors... All these reasons are why I love my job. The leadership and responsibility I learn from being a coxswain I apply to all aspects of my life; leading high school counsel, being able to manage my time, coxing has even given me the confidence to stand up in front of the whole school and lead every school function as the only MC.

The job description has high expectations, but I'm not one to disappoint. After four years of being a top coxswain for Camp Randall Rowing Club, I'm ready for the next step. The next challenge. New rowers and new coaches to help me hone my skills and grow even more as a coxswain. It's bittersweet, to graduate and leave the team I love, but it's the challenges ahead that make me want to keep coming back, keep coxing for more.