Rachel Robinson: MVP Off The Field
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Mother Theresa once said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Freshman Rachel Robinson lives this quote. This field hockey defender understands what it means to feed others both mentally and physically. For her passion in caring about the hungry bodies and minds of others, we are proud to present Rachel Robinson as this month’s MVP Off the Field.
By Sarah Lagasse
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Mother Theresa once said, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." Freshman Rachel Robinson lives this quote. This field hockey defender understands what it means to feed others both mentally and physically. For her passion in caring about the hungry bodies and minds of others, we are proud to present Rachel Robinson as this month's MVP Off the Field.
At Quabbin High School, Robinson earned numerous academic achievement awards in art, physical education, world history, and ceramics. Her high school athletic accomplishments include earning both the Most Improved Player Award and the Unsung Hero Award on her field hockey team as well as being the Quabbin High School Ambassador to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).
Upon her arrival at Bridgewater State University, Rachel chose to major in psychology because she enjoyed working with people and "helping them when they need it the most." Along with her involvement on the field hockey team, Rachel is also a member of the Outdoor Activities Club.
Each summer since 2009, Rachel has gone to Washington D.C. on youth mission trips with the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield. In DC, Rachel was on a team of 35 students, working long hours to feed people in need through organizations such as DC Central Kitchen, Food and Friends, Martha's Table, Capital Area Food Bank, S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat), and Thrive DC. Each of these organizations works to feed their community in unique ways including preparing meals from scratch, transporting meals to communities that need it, serving meals restaurant style, and packaging meals in boxes to be sent out to people in need.
Additionally, Rachel's group worked with an organization called Parks and People, cleaning up parks in the Washington D.C. area. This summer, Rachel will go on her fourth mission trip, working with these organizations.
Rachel says that her participation in Bridgewater State University athletics has made her a more "hard working, responsible, and committed" individual. She plans to someday transition from feeding physical bodies to feeding the young minds of teenagers by becoming either a guidance counselor or a teacher at the high school level. We are excited to see the positive influence she will have on her future students just as she has had on the lives of those whom she has already come in contact with.