Hayley Reitsma has received much more than just the thrill of competition and joy of victory while being a NCAA Division III softball player at Hope College.

HaleyThe junior catcher from Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian HS) has learned about herself and discovered her career and life aspirations while starting behind the plate for the Flying Dutch for three seasons.

亚洲色吧淪oftball has been a big part of my growth as a person,亚洲色吧 Reitsma said. 亚洲色吧淚t has really helped me gain confidence and leadership skills. It also has helped me find a profession that I want to do, something that is both task-oriented and people-oriented.

亚洲色吧淭he more I亚洲色吧檝e had time at Hope, the more I have found that investing in relationships is something that gives me energy.亚洲色吧

Reitsma plans to attend Physician Assistant school after graduating from Hope College and taking a gap year.

The three-year starter and two-time member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Honor Roll has chosen biology as a major and business as a minor. Playing ball and studying sciences has become a family tradition.

Her brother, Mitch Reitsma 亚洲色吧16, a former pitcher for the Hope College baseball team, has been accepted to the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. He is currently working on completing a Master亚洲色吧檚 in Business Administration from Grand Valley State University.

亚洲色吧淢y love for the sciences comes out a little bit from my love for athletics and working out. They were always something my brother and I were interested in,亚洲色吧 she said. 亚洲色吧淚 followed his footsteps to Hope. I followed his footsteps to the sciences. I亚洲色吧檝e fallen in love with the sciences now that I亚洲色吧檓 here and have really gotten into it.亚洲色吧 

Reitsma found that, once she began her studies at Hope and pondered her future, she wanted to take a different career path than her brother亚洲色吧檚.

亚洲色吧淚 looked at my life goals. I really want to have a family and be a pretty active mom. The fact that P.A. school is two years, then there亚洲色吧檚 more flexibility in the schedule once you get into the profession, was really appealing to me.亚洲色吧

Reitsma is thankful for all the opportunities Hope College provides for her as a student-athlete 亚洲色吧 on and off the diamond. She said they helped her figure out her career path.

亚洲色吧淚亚洲色吧檝e been able to have a placement through my development psychology class at Evergreen Commons. It亚洲色吧檚 with senior citizens, spending time talking with them and doing activities with them. That亚洲色吧檚 been really fun,亚洲色吧 Reitsma said. 亚洲色吧淭he different classes and opportunities that have been afforded to me have helped me figure out what I want to do.亚洲色吧

Reitsma is in particular appreciative of the community support at Hope College, whether from professors, coaches or classmates.

Being a student-athlete brings with it unique scheduling challenges, especially in a compact spring season. Reitsma said she has not had to sacrifice the quality of her learning while playing softball and being a co-captain for the Flying Dutch.

An interaction with a chemistry professor, Dr. Elizabeth Sanford, had a significant impact, Reitsma recalled.

亚洲色吧淭he professors are really flexible. They亚洲色吧檙e awesome,亚洲色吧 Reitsma said. 亚洲色吧淟ast year in the spring, I did an individual project as part of an organic chemistry lab. Dr. Elizabeth Sanford was the one working with me. She said right away, 亚洲色吧業 know you亚洲色吧檙e a student-athlete. I know your hours are going to be different than other people亚洲色吧檚. I亚洲色吧檓 giving you a project that亚洲色吧檚 flexible with the hours, it亚洲色吧檚 not going to be as labor intensive in big blocks of time. You亚洲色吧檒l be able to come in as you can. She was so helpful at the outset recognizing my schedule was going to be different.亚洲色吧

亚洲色吧淚亚洲色吧檝e found when missing classes, my classmates have been super helpful, too. The whole community in general wants everyone to succeed. There are definitely resources available.亚洲色吧