Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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30 CAVALIER CORNER Phoebe Willis, a former player on the Virginia Field Hockey team from 2009-2013, graduated with a bachelor's degree in History from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2013. She returned to Char- lottesville in 2015 to earn her J.D./M.B.A. from UVA's Law School and the Darden School of Busi- ness. After walking the Lawn this past spring with a dual degree, Willis is currently studying for the Virginia Bar Exam and will begin working in corpo- rate law at Hunton & Williams in Richmond. Q: Members of the University community regard "Triple Hoos" as individuals who have received three degrees from UVA. As a member of this esteemed group of students, can you describe your experience and your future endeavors? Growing up in Virginia, it was always my dream to attend UVA. As a kid, I just wanted to be a "Wa- hoo", but as I got older and began the recruiting process, I realized that UVA really had the best of everything — academics, athletics and student life. I was incredibly fortunate to play for such a strong field hockey program at Virginia and was challenged daily by my highly competitive and suc- cessful teammates. The turf wasn't the only place I was challenged during undergrad — I also grew in the classroom and in my involvement with student self-governance where I worked with some of the brightest young minds in the country. I realized during my undergrad time at UVA that I loved being surrounded by and competing with people who were smarter, more talented and more creative than me. In the athletics world, they always say you play better when you're playing a better opponent and I think that motto is true in life. This is the exact reason I chose to come back to UVA for graduate school. In addition to the high rankings of both the Law School (top 10) and Darden School (top 15), I found the students and faculty to be intellectually curious, driven and also engaging. Similar to my undergraduate experience, I was looking for a place that would fully challenge me to be better, and I can't think of anywhere more equipped to do just that. Q: As a sixth-generation student at the Univer - sity of Virginia, can you elaborate on your con- nection with the University? What role did your extensive familial connection to the school play in your decision to attend and compete for UVA on the Women's Field Hockey team? Growing up, my family always emphasized the importance of getting a good education. When I say my family, I actually mean my entire extended family, not just my parents, but my grandparents, my aunts/uncles, cousins, etc. The fact that a num- ber of people in my family attended UVA not only meant that I was exposed to UVA earlier in life, but also, that my family instilled in me early on an ap- preciation for the priceless value of a well-rounded education. Competing on the field hockey team was a dream come true. At the time I committed to UVA, they weren't nearly as highly ranked as they were during my time playing for them or even now- I seriously lucked out and snuck in! Haha, but in all seriousness, my youngest sister, Catesby Willis '20, is on the team now and it still feels like one big family. We have alumni games every fall and the team hosts tailgates (even inviting the opposing team) after big games in the parking lot right next to the field. Being a member of the field hockey team at UVA taught me so much, it was a life changing opportunity. Q: Looking back on your time at UVA, what is your fondest memory as a member of the field hockey team? I have so many memories, this is really a tough question. Going to the NCAA final four my first year was an incredible experience, but I think what speaks more to the family aspect of our team (my favorite part) is when I participated as a "Shavee" in a St. Baldrick's Foundation head-shaving fundraiser. The Foundation supports childhood cancer research and the head-shaving fundraiser raises money and awareness toward their efforts. I feel it is a power - ful way for participants and their support systems to show children with cancer that they are not alone in the fight for their lives. My coaches and teammates all came to the event to cheer me on as I had my head shaved. Being part of a team at UVA is so much more than just on the field, your teammates and coaches truly become your family. Q: What advice do you have for current student- athletes at the University of Virginia? Being a student-athlete at UVA is an incredible privilege. I believe one of the best ways to honor that privilege is to build relationships and take advantage of the unique opportunities presented to you. Keep your head up and ask older student- athletes about their involvement in student-life or their experience with summer internships. Focus on athletics and enjoy it, but also keep it in perspective and remember that UVA is a big place filled with interesting people. Be brave, try new things. When you start interviewing for jobs, people will be impressed by the fact that you were a student- athlete at Virginia, but they won't really care about how many minutes you played or your max bench press. If you ever need help prepping for an interview, my UVA email ( paw2vg@virginia. edu) is still active and please reach out. You've got to be your biggest advocate and that can be tough when you're switching from the athletic world to the job world. But, rest assured, most employers are looking for people that know how to work well on teams, have great time management skills and handle deadlines under pressure - all charac- teristics that are embedded in the fabric of UVA student-athletes. Q: In what ways do you continue to support Virginia Athletics? I have been and plan to continue supporting Virginia Athletics as a donor, mentor and volunteer. I will never be able to repay Virginia Athletics for how much it has given me. Last year, I had the honor of being asked to sit on the search committee for the next director of ath- letics. At first, I was pretty nervous because Craig Littlepage had done such a fantastic job and was leaving big shoes to fill. However, I can say without a doubt that I believe Carla Williams is the right person for the job. From the moment she first be- gan speaking in her interview, I saw her passion for combining excellent college athletics with a world- class education, and I knew there was no better fit for Virginia. I'm really excited for the future of Virginia Athletics and look forward to embracing my role as a Wahoo superfan. Phoebe Willis Phoebe Willis student member of the UVA Board of Visitors during the 2016-17 term. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY PHOTO BY DAN ADDISON cavs for life