Every evening after school, rain or shine, junior Nathalie Cho makes her way to the lower field to practice with Huron’s varsity field hockey team. The team practices for two hours every evening, honing their skills, but Cho is well accustomed to the rigorous daily practice after two previous years with the varsity team. Although she has been playing with Huron for three years now, Cho’s field hockey journey began well before she entered high school.
“I’ve been playing field hockey since I was around 6 years old,” Cho said. “I joined the Huron field hockey team my freshman year and made varsity.”
Although Cho initially began playing the sport because her older sister played, she now plays because it’s a way to stay active and she loves the community.
“I enjoy playing field hockey at Huron with everybody,” Cho said, “because I always have fun with the team.”
Fellow junior Anna Regan, who plays field hockey with Cho, described Cho as a vital member of Huron’s team.
“[Nathalie has] been playing on varsity since freshman year, so she is very important to the team,” Regan said. “She is such a positive energy. She’s a bit quieter, but is always kind and welcoming.”
Apart from field hockey, Cho also participates in several other Huron clubs and activities, including acting as the secretary of Huron’s Dear Asian Youth (DAY) Club, playing the cello in Huron’s Symphony orchestra, and playing with Huron’s varsity lacrosse team. Despite her rigorous schedule, Cho ensures that she has time for her academics, hobbies, friends, and family.
“I like to watch TV with my family and listen to music,” Cho said. “To balance field hockey with the rest of my life, I take advantage of any free time I have to get work done. I study a lot on the weekends, too!”
Cho also believes that field hockey has had a very positive influence on her character throughout the years, helping to mold her into a better person.
“I think field hockey has improved my mental game a lot,” Cho said. “Playing any sport, you have to have a lot of mental toughness, which was something I used to struggle with a bit more before I came to Huron. I’ve learned to approach things in a more positive manner and to put myself in other’s shoes.”
