Spring Senior Scholar-Athlete Spotlight: Julia Sirvinskas
4/23/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
Thirty-three seniors were on Davidson Wildcat rosters as this spring began, and though their 2020 seasons were abbreviated, their contributions to their respective teams, the overall athletics program and college itself make them worthy of recognition. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we will feature members of the class of 2020 as part of the Senior Spring Scholar-Athlete Spotlight.
Name: Julia Sirvinskas
Sport you competed in: Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
What is your major?: Double major in Hispanic Studies and Communication Studies
What was your favorite class and why?: I really enjoyed American Politics with Professor Crowder-Meyer. The course content is o relevant and something I think we should all be familiar with. This class helped me understand why we see certain patterns in politics and in voting. Professor Crowder-Meyer taught in a very intriguing way and I looked forward to attending her class.
Where are you completing your studies this semester?: I'm finishing up the semester in Park Ridge, Ill., at home with my parents.
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season?: Because I did not have the opportunity to compete in outdoor track, I will remember finally feeling confident in myself as a competitor as a senior. I was plagued by injury and sickness my first three years of college, but was finally fully healthy and excited to race again this year. It can be hard to stay motivated and to not burn out when you do something for so long and don't always get the results you want, but I'm proud of myself for maintaining a positive relationship with my sport until the very end.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why?: I will never forget our spring break trip to Myrtle Beach in 2018 for a track meet at Coastal Carolina University. The weather ended up being pretty horrible. It was cold and windy and no one raced particularly well, but we made the most of the situation. Instead of being miserable about it, we chose to enjoy each other's company and sort of laugh at our bad luck. We woke up early to see the sunrise over the beach, hung out in each other's hotel rooms, and explored the city together. It was nice to just spend all of our time together as teammates.
What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different?: Being both a full-time student and an athlete at Davidson College requires exceptional time management skills. Spending hours practicing, traveling, and competing was just second nature to me, not something I saw as taking away from my free time, but rather a natural and necessary part of my college experience. Now that I'm home and have no obligations other than attending class and completing assignments, I realize how much of my time I devoted to track and how much effort I put into balancing my athletic, academic, and social life. Having a balanced life at Davidson and simultaneously prioritizing mental health was something I worked towards actively, it could not have happened on its own.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you?: I would invite Greta Thunberg to hear her speak about climate change. She is so articulate and an icon! I would invite Michael Jordan because I want to learn what it's really like to only be satiated with being the best. It'd also be nice to talk to him about navigating life after sports. The third person I would invite is Malcolm Gladwell. He's so intellectual and interesting and I'd love to hear his thoughts on society.
Most memorable college moment outside of competition?: I will remember all of my team's crazy traditions and quality time spent together. If I had to choose one memory in particular, it would be this year's "We Love Our Seniors" track meet. It was thrown together last-minute, but incredibly fun and hilarious nonetheless. Members of the men's and women's teams were divided into four teams, each led by a group of seniors. We then competed in creative track events, like the backwards 100m sprint, the 4x200m medicine ball relay, and the co-ed 4x100m relay. Highlights included two people aggressively face-planting over a hurdle and my victory in the 100m piggyback race. I love how the men's and women's track teams really are like a family, and am so grateful to have teammates who put so much effort into celebrating the seniors and cheering us up after the devastating news that our season was canceled. Oh, and my team won, of course.
What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester?: Track taught me that your mentality dictates your performance. You can be perfectly fit and prepared, but if you haven't trained your brain to compete, you ultimately won't succeed. This translates to the unusual circumstances we are in now because although we cannot control what's going on in the world, we can control our reactions to it and our attitude. Choosing to express gratitude and not dwell on loss is the best thing we can do right now. I would also say that learning to love the process of training helps me deal with this situation. Not being able to compete this season is a major loss, but that is not the only reason I trained. I trained because training in itself brought me joy and gave me an opportunity to push my limits. You never know when something will come to an end or be taken from you, so you have to be present at all times and enjoy the process, regardless of what lies ahead.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat?: I am proud to be remembered as someone who brought people together, made people feel comfortable being themselves, and was always honest. People won't remember the times I ran but they will remember how I treated my fellow teammates and my friends.
Who do you want to thank for their support?: My parents have supported me unconditionally my whole life, and I'm grateful for all of the experiences I've had and the opportunities I've received because of them. I am also thankful for Coach Straub for supporting and loving me as if I were her own daughter. Coach Straub, along with a few professors, especially Profesora Willis and Profesora Maíz-Peña, have always made me feel like there are adults at Davidson who care about my well-being. Lastly, I want to thank all of my friends and teammates throughout the past four years. Having peers who can relate to you and your experiences is invaluable and I'm so thankful for all of my memories with them.
What's next for you?: The future is pretty uncertain, but I'd like to work in Chicago in the field of sustainability, maybe looking at food waste or industrial agriculture specifically.
Name: Julia Sirvinskas
Sport you competed in: Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
What is your major?: Double major in Hispanic Studies and Communication Studies
What was your favorite class and why?: I really enjoyed American Politics with Professor Crowder-Meyer. The course content is o relevant and something I think we should all be familiar with. This class helped me understand why we see certain patterns in politics and in voting. Professor Crowder-Meyer taught in a very intriguing way and I looked forward to attending her class.
Where are you completing your studies this semester?: I'm finishing up the semester in Park Ridge, Ill., at home with my parents.
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season?: Because I did not have the opportunity to compete in outdoor track, I will remember finally feeling confident in myself as a competitor as a senior. I was plagued by injury and sickness my first three years of college, but was finally fully healthy and excited to race again this year. It can be hard to stay motivated and to not burn out when you do something for so long and don't always get the results you want, but I'm proud of myself for maintaining a positive relationship with my sport until the very end.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why?: I will never forget our spring break trip to Myrtle Beach in 2018 for a track meet at Coastal Carolina University. The weather ended up being pretty horrible. It was cold and windy and no one raced particularly well, but we made the most of the situation. Instead of being miserable about it, we chose to enjoy each other's company and sort of laugh at our bad luck. We woke up early to see the sunrise over the beach, hung out in each other's hotel rooms, and explored the city together. It was nice to just spend all of our time together as teammates.
What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different?: Being both a full-time student and an athlete at Davidson College requires exceptional time management skills. Spending hours practicing, traveling, and competing was just second nature to me, not something I saw as taking away from my free time, but rather a natural and necessary part of my college experience. Now that I'm home and have no obligations other than attending class and completing assignments, I realize how much of my time I devoted to track and how much effort I put into balancing my athletic, academic, and social life. Having a balanced life at Davidson and simultaneously prioritizing mental health was something I worked towards actively, it could not have happened on its own.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you?: I would invite Greta Thunberg to hear her speak about climate change. She is so articulate and an icon! I would invite Michael Jordan because I want to learn what it's really like to only be satiated with being the best. It'd also be nice to talk to him about navigating life after sports. The third person I would invite is Malcolm Gladwell. He's so intellectual and interesting and I'd love to hear his thoughts on society.
Most memorable college moment outside of competition?: I will remember all of my team's crazy traditions and quality time spent together. If I had to choose one memory in particular, it would be this year's "We Love Our Seniors" track meet. It was thrown together last-minute, but incredibly fun and hilarious nonetheless. Members of the men's and women's teams were divided into four teams, each led by a group of seniors. We then competed in creative track events, like the backwards 100m sprint, the 4x200m medicine ball relay, and the co-ed 4x100m relay. Highlights included two people aggressively face-planting over a hurdle and my victory in the 100m piggyback race. I love how the men's and women's track teams really are like a family, and am so grateful to have teammates who put so much effort into celebrating the seniors and cheering us up after the devastating news that our season was canceled. Oh, and my team won, of course.
What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester?: Track taught me that your mentality dictates your performance. You can be perfectly fit and prepared, but if you haven't trained your brain to compete, you ultimately won't succeed. This translates to the unusual circumstances we are in now because although we cannot control what's going on in the world, we can control our reactions to it and our attitude. Choosing to express gratitude and not dwell on loss is the best thing we can do right now. I would also say that learning to love the process of training helps me deal with this situation. Not being able to compete this season is a major loss, but that is not the only reason I trained. I trained because training in itself brought me joy and gave me an opportunity to push my limits. You never know when something will come to an end or be taken from you, so you have to be present at all times and enjoy the process, regardless of what lies ahead.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat?: I am proud to be remembered as someone who brought people together, made people feel comfortable being themselves, and was always honest. People won't remember the times I ran but they will remember how I treated my fellow teammates and my friends.
Who do you want to thank for their support?: My parents have supported me unconditionally my whole life, and I'm grateful for all of the experiences I've had and the opportunities I've received because of them. I am also thankful for Coach Straub for supporting and loving me as if I were her own daughter. Coach Straub, along with a few professors, especially Profesora Willis and Profesora Maíz-Peña, have always made me feel like there are adults at Davidson who care about my well-being. Lastly, I want to thank all of my friends and teammates throughout the past four years. Having peers who can relate to you and your experiences is invaluable and I'm so thankful for all of my memories with them.
What's next for you?: The future is pretty uncertain, but I'd like to work in Chicago in the field of sustainability, maybe looking at food waste or industrial agriculture specifically.
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