(This is the eighth in a series of Class of 2016 perspectives. The student-athletes featured will write about their time at Colby.)

Emily Tolman

Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough

women's track and field

majors: Russian language and culture, biology 

I could have never imagined, in my early life, the impact that competitive running at Colby College would have on me after my four years on Mayflower Hill.

I had always been the extremely shy and quiet girl, so on the first day of track, I did not speak a word and kept to myself. As many of my teammates like to remind me, I did not speak for months. I was painfully timid and awkward, and therefore my introduction to the team was not off to the best start.

However, my coaches knew my aspirations and were patient with me, and my teammates were unbelievably friendly. That friendly spirit, which was evident to me long before I got to Colby, was one of the reasons I applied Early Decision. I knew right from the start I had made the right decision. I surprised myself the first year by being on our 4x400 relay team which earned two All-American titles, and we even were the national runner-ups for the outdoor season. Maybe it was the hysterical, kind, and brilliant members of our smaller 4x400 crew, maybe it was the shock of surpassing all of my goals so quickly, or maybe it was the reassurance of my coaches that I could achieve so much that sparked this newfound confidence in me.  That confidence spilled over into my studies, friendships, and into my running.

Running for Colby has given me the gift of traveling all over the United States, organization in my life, the admiration of my peers and professors, determination, and, yes, self-confidence. But the greatest gift I received from Colby track and field was the wonderful team I was so fortunate to have. Most people would judge my time running in college by my success on the track, but they overlook everything behind those results. As a student-athlete for a Division III school, I have realized participation in sports consists of so much more than the results.

In between successes there were workouts that had us unable to stand, long runs with some of the weirdest conversations I will never forget, tears inside my coach's office when I was not feeling myself, racing up the dreaded Runnals Hill with teammates, holiday potlucks, yearly 4x400 races with the entire team, and countless memories. I can never express how much my team has meant to me, but I can start by saying that I owe them so much for giving me the greatest experience I have ever had.