There is a sense of calm everyone associates with nature. Whether it is hiking amongst vibrant layers of fall foliage or watching a waterfall striking the stream below, spending time interacting with nature provides peace and a much-needed break from life’s daily sprint.

In the age of technology, though, people rarely spend enough time outside and instead get tangled up in high-stress work situations even outside of their 9-5 job. This issue has been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic, as many feel unsafe leaving quarantine, and the clear temporal boundaries have grayed and bled into what’s typically “alone-” or “family time.” However, it is increasingly important that in uncertain and anxiety-ridden times like these, we find ways to escape and de-stress.

Doctors throughout the United States are increasingly prescribing time outdoors to their patients. Regularly interacting with nature has been described as, “one of the best self-improvement tools,” and, “a simple way to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and maybe even improve your memory.” ‘Regular interaction’ can mean anything from 20 to 30 minutes, 3 days a week, but a goal of at least 120 minutes per week will provide the most benefit.

Taking this valuable couple of hours to spend in nature has upsides stretching beyond mental health as well. A stressful environment can elevate blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension while suppressing your immune system, but calming nature sounds and a more pleasing environment can reverse those effects. Recently, the scientific fields of ecotherapy and ecopsychology, which aim to positively shape minds with nature, have been growing as nature has been credited for improving mental health, mood, physical health, and vitality.

Upon returning from a moment in nature, many take on a more positive and relaxed mood, feeling energized and refreshed. Nature provides a respite for overactive minds, and time in nature may increase productivity in the new tasks that follow. Dr. David Strayer, who is currently researching the correlation between time in nature and changes in the brain, believes being in nature, “restores depleted attention circuits, which can then help us be more open to creativity and problem-solving.”

Furthermore, forest-bathing, a practice within ecotherapy, has been shown to improve executive functioning skills such as completing tasks, planning, prioritizing, and managing emotions. These increases in productivity, efficiency, and creativity suggest that time in nature could foster better performance in the workplace.

Though less studied, nature may also have an impact on one’s social wellbeing and tendencies. Some scientists believe that nature inspires feelings that make us feel connected not only to the environment, but also to others. Nature can strengthen relationships, as being outdoors influences willingness to be trusting, generous, and helpful toward others. A study by University College London found that children’s experiences in the natural world fostered better relationships with teachers and classmates.

Additionally, a separate study observing a group of Canadian elementary school children found that regular contact with nature over 8 months had profound benefits on children’s pro-social behaviors, including social, language, and communication skills. Though the effect on the social behaviors of adults may not be as drastic, nature can influence our ability to connect with other people nonetheless. Individuals connected to nature tend to be conscientious, extroverted, agreeable, and open, which promotes engagement and sociability. Given that research, don’t you want to mobilize yourself and enjoy some time in nature?

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/sour-mood-getting-you-down-get-back-to-nature
2. https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing
3. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_nature_makes_you_kinder_happier_more_creative
4. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-11-nature-children-confidence.html
5. https://nebocompany.com/forest-bathing-benefits/ 
6. http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/publications/email/pod/convio/leadingedge/su14/leadingedge-nature.html
7. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00976/full
8. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02942/full
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494418307102

No one feels quite their best, physically or mentally, after a restless night. Falling out of the routine set by our body’s circadian rhythm makes exhaustion more than a nuisance… it becomes an impediment. Simple tasks become difficult, as lack of sleep impairs concentration levels and decision-making skills. Productivity plummets when employees are generally not getting enough sleep. In 2016, the RAND Corporation found that sleep deprivation cost the U.S. economy $411 billion dollars in a year alongside over 1 million lost workdays, either from oversleeping or skipping due to an illness they were more vulnerable to due to lack of sleep. On an individual level, an employee could be losing up to 11 days in productivity and $2280 in wages per year. What is crazier is that even sleeping just 30 extra minutes per night could make the difference!

The common consensus is that adults need about 8 hours of sleep per day to achieve their maximum capacity of productivity the following day. However, on average, adults get around 6.5 hours of sleep. Most people dismiss this 1.5 hour difference, as they have a warped understanding of what sleep is. Rather than simply a passive ‘recharge,’ sleep is a period of mental maintenance, during which countless activities are taking place. Memories are consolidated and stored, glucose and chemical levels are replenished to provide fuel for the brain on the following day, neuroplastic synaptic connections are adjusted, and beta-amyloid plaque build-up is removed.

The effects extend far beyond cognitive function; sleep is integral to athletic and physical performance. Deep sleep is responsible for much of the muscle and tissue restoration and repair, and without sufficient rest, athletes tire 11% faster than their well-rested counterparts, leading to submaximal performance. The Gatorade Sports Science Institute studied the performance of athletes across various sports, and found that well-rested athletes experience increased exercise abilities as a result. More specifically, tennis players have a 4.2% increase in their hitting accuracy, and basketball players shoot 9% more accurately from both the three-point and free throw lines. In addition, reaction times, motivation and focus are aided by sleep, improving performance.

Even among non-athletes, the physical impacts of losing sleep are serious. Consistent sleep deprivation has been linked to several health issues, including diabetes (Type 2), obesity, and cardiovascular disease, and risk of stroke. Immune function may decrease, leaving one’s systems susceptible to infection or common illnesses, possibly affecting personal and professional life.

In the office, sleep can be the distinguishing factor between an effective leader and workforce, and one that’s unproductive. Studies have found that leaders who arrive sleep-deprived are likely to lose patience and be viewed as less charismatic, which diminishes the experiences of their employees as well. Work environments idolizing sleep deprivation become unhealthy atmospheres in which subordinates become more likely to behave unethically, make incorrect decisions, and procrastinate their assignments. Quality sleep, in contrast, promotes creativity, cognitive skills, emotion management, and problem-solving ability, as well as better working relationships. Companies including Google and Aetna have begun to provide ‘nap pods’ where employees can recharge or cash incentives as encouragement to reach a certain amount of sleep.

Surprisingly, the effects of sleep can bleed into our social lives as well. Researchers at U.C. Berkeley found that sleep-deprived people feel less inclined to enter social interactions, avoiding contact as someone with social anxiety might. Furthermore, those who are unrested are perceived by others as socially repulsive, exacerbating the social-isolation sleep loss fosters in this cyclical manner. Fatigue can hinder emotion regulation and recognition, resulting in this ‘daytime interference’ of our social skills when tired.

In order to conquer the unhealthy cycle of sleep deprivation, experts suggest 15-20 minute ‘power naps,’ establishing a night-time routine, and turning down bright lights and devices about an hour before bed. However, the most important requirement is to stick with your new and improved 8-hour sleep schedule; only then can you reap the many benefits of a good night’s sleep.

Questions? Here’s a TedEd video about what would happen if we didn’t sleep!

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2017/press-release/
https://www.lifetothefullest.abbott/en_in/articles/finding-a-good-night-s-sleep-and-inner-peace.html
https://www.vpppa.org/connect/blog/sleep-and-its-impact-on-the-modern-day-workplace
https://www.tuck.com/productivity-and-sleep/
https://hbr.org/2018/09/sleep-well-lead-better
https://www.chieflearningofficer.com/2016/08/31/sleep-affects-performance%E2%80%8A-%E2%80%8Aand-companies-can/
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessive-sleepiness/performance/good-nights-sleep-helps-job-performance
https://www.hult.edu/blog/how-sleep-deprivation-affects-work-and-performance/
https://www.gssiweb.org/sports-science-exchange/article/sse-167-sleep-and-athletes
https://www.thorne.com/take-5-daily/article/the-importance-of-sleep-in-athletic-performance
https://www.fatiguescience.com/blog/5-ways-sleep-impacts-peak-athletic-performance/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/201710/how-lack-sleep-affects-your-social-life
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/poor-sleep-can-literally-kill-your-social-life

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was more than just a household name; she was, and still is, a hero to many, women especially. Paving the way for women in law and society, she contributed greatly to women’s current way of life, not only in her time as a Supreme Court Justice, but also while serving on Law Reviews and arguing cases.

One of only nine women in her graduating class of 500 at Harvard Law School, Ginsburg was met with resistance from some of the older faculty, yet persevered while raising her eldest child. Later, after transferring to Columbia Law School to be with her husband, she graduated at the top of her class. However, despite her stellar academic record and high recommendation, her gender, as well as her status as a mother, proved to be a barrier in career advancement. At one point during her career, she even had to hide her second pregnancy for fear of being fired because of it.

Upon graduating, Ginsburg was personally recommended to be a Supreme Court law clerk for Justice Felix Frankfurter, but was rejected, as Frankfurter felt uncomfortable with the idea of a woman in his chambers. Eventually, she was offered a clerkship under Judge Palmieri of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. This clerkship led to multiple offers from major law firms, but instead, she returned to Columbia to work on the law school’s Project on International procedure, and traveled to the University of Lund to learn Swedish. Her commitment to her work shone through in other initiatives too, including the law journal The Women’s Rights Law Reporter, which she co-founded. This journal was the first law journal in the US dedicated to issues in gender equality.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg continually fought for women’s rights, arguing several cases regarding sex discrimination before the United States Supreme Court before founding the American Civil Liberty Union’s Women’s Rights Project. Finally, she was appointed by former president Bill Clinton to the Supreme Court, and was affirmed by the Senate with a resounding 96-3 vote, making her only the second woman to be named to the Supreme Court. Even through her cancer recurrences, Ginsburg persevered, promising to remain on the bench as long as she was able.

Yet another way RBG served as an amazing inspiration.
Throughout her time on the Supreme Court (1993-2020), Ginsburg has contributed to many rulings that give women today more rights on the path towards gender equality. In the 1996 case, United States v. Virginia, Ginsburg wrote the majority opinion that it is unconstitutional for state-funded schools to not admit women. She also paved the way for the creation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974), without which women would not be able to sign a mortgage or have a bank account without a male co-signer. Ginsburg also fought for equal pay in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case, women’s reproductive rights in the vote to keep Roe v. Wade, and for granting same-sex marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges. All the meanwhile, she maintained the utmost integrity and didn’t let political differences affect her personal relationships with other justices outside the court.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life was certainly one well lived, and one of tremendous service to women and the world, as she opened a space of protection for people on the basis of gender identity and sexuality. She encouraged women everywhere to pursue their passions, take charge, and be involved in court decisions, saying in a 2009 interview, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”

In addition to her impressive academic and legal pursuits, Ruth Bader Ginsburg balanced her life with other passions. A notable one was her love of opera. While I have not yet developed that same level of appreciation, I can say that I greatly respect the long-lasting friendship that she and former Judge Antonin Scalia shared. Despite their disparate ideological views on many topics, the two maintained a lovely friendship that included collaboration, conversation and fun.

Ginsburg speaking at an Aspen Institute event.

Another passion that stands out to me, because of my love and connection to the area, is Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s long-lasting connection with Aspen, Colorado. As an active speaker at the Aspen Institute and Aspen Ideas Festival, she shared inspirational and innovative ideas to apt audiences in the Colorado mountains. Her keen intellect and humor were always welcomed in the Roaring Fork Valley.

On September 23, 2020, after passing away days earlier at the age of 87, Ginsburg became the first woman to lie in state. There, she was honored for two days as a justice who was known as both a legal icon and Notorious RBG. Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be forever remembered as an inspirational leader who made the world a better place.

https://achievement.org/achiever/ruth-bader-ginsburg/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruth-Bader-Ginsburg

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/life/2020/09/24/ruth-bader-ginsburg-8-things-she-did-womens-rights/3502065001/

No one feels quite their best, physically or mentally, after a restless night. Falling out of the routine set by our body’s circadian rhythm makes exhaustion more than a nuisance… it becomes an impediment. Simple tasks become difficult, as lack of sleep impairs concentration levels and decision-making skills. Productivity plummets when employees are generally not getting enough sleep. In 2016, the RAND Corporation found that sleep deprivation cost the U.S. economy $411 billion dollars in a year alongside over 1 million lost workdays, either from oversleeping or skipping due to an illness they were more vulnerable to due to lack of sleep. On an individual level, an employee could be losing up to 11 days in productivity and $2280 in wages per year. What is crazier is that even sleeping just 30 extra minutes per night could make the difference!

The common consensus is that adults need about 8 hours of sleep per day to achieve their maximum capacity of productivity the following day. However, on average, adults get around 6.5 hours of sleep. Most people dismiss this 1.5 hour difference, as they have a warped understanding of what sleep is. Rather than simply a passive ‘recharge,’ sleep is a period of mental maintenance, during which countless activities are taking place. Memories are consolidated and stored, glucose and chemical levels are replenished to provide fuel for the brain on the following day, neuroplastic synaptic connections are adjusted, and beta-amyloid plaque build-up is removed.

The effects extend far beyond cognitive function; sleep is integral to athletic and physical performance. Deep sleep is responsible for much of the muscle and tissue restoration and repair, and without sufficient rest, athletes tire 11% faster than their well-rested counterparts, leading to submaximal performance. The Gatorade Sports Science Institute studied the performance of athletes across various sports, and found that well-rested athletes experience increased exercise abilities as a result. More specifically, tennis players have a 4.2% increase in their hitting accuracy, and basketball players shoot 9% more accurately from both the three-point and free throw lines. In addition, reaction times, motivation and focus are aided by sleep, improving performance.

Even among non-athletes, the physical impacts of losing sleep are serious. Consistent sleep deprivation has been linked to several health issues, including diabetes (Type 2), obesity, and cardiovascular disease, and risk of stroke. Immune function may decrease, leaving one’s systems susceptible to infection or common illnesses, possibly affecting personal and professional life.

In the office, sleep can be the distinguishing factor between an effective leader and workforce, and one that’s unproductive. Studies have found that leaders who arrive sleep-deprived are likely to lose patience and be viewed as less charismatic, which diminishes the experiences of their employees as well. Work environments idolizing sleep deprivation become unhealthy atmospheres in which subordinates become more likely to behave unethically, make incorrect decisions, and procrastinate their assignments. Quality sleep, in contrast, promotes creativity, cognitive skills, emotion management, and problem-solving ability, as well as better working relationships. Companies including Google and Aetna have begun to provide ‘nap pods’ where employees can recharge or cash incentives as encouragement to reach a certain amount of sleep.

Surprisingly, the effects of sleep can bleed into our social lives as well. Researchers at U.C. Berkeley found that sleep-deprived people feel less inclined to enter social interactions, avoiding contact as someone with social anxiety might. Furthermore, those who are unrested are perceived by others as socially repulsive, exacerbating the social-isolation sleep loss fosters in this cyclical manner. Fatigue can hinder emotion regulation and recognition, resulting in this ‘daytime interference’ of our social skills when tired.

In order to conquer the unhealthy cycle of sleep deprivation, experts suggest 15-20 minute ‘power naps,’ establishing a night-time routine, and turning down bright lights and devices about an hour before bed. However, the most important requirement is to stick with your new and improved 8-hour sleep schedule; only then can you reap the many benefits of a good night’s sleep.

Questions? Here’s a TedEd video about what would happen if we didn’t sleep!

Sources:

1. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2017/press-release/
2. https://www.lifetothefullest.abbott/en_in/articles/finding-a-good-night-s-sleep-and-inner-peace.html
3. https://www.vpppa.org/connect/blog/sleep-and-its-impact-on-the-modern-day-workplace
4. https://www.tuck.com/productivity-and-sleep/
5. https://hbr.org/2018/09/sleep-well-lead-better
6. https://www.chieflearningofficer.com/2016/08/31/sleep-affects-performance%E2%80%8A-%E2%80%8Aand-companies-can/
7. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessive-sleepiness/performance/good-nights-sleep-helps-job-performance
8. https://www.hult.edu/blog/how-sleep-deprivation-affects-work-and-performance/
9. https://www.gssiweb.org/sports-science-exchange/article/sse-167-sleep-and-athletes
10. https://www.thorne.com/take-5-daily/article/the-importance-of-sleep-in-athletic-performance
11. https://www.fatiguescience.com/blog/5-ways-sleep-impacts-peak-athletic-performance/
12. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/201710/how-lack-sleep-affects-your-social-life
13. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/poor-sleep-can-literally-kill-your-social-life

Congratulations, Bubba!

Any man who has the gumption to proudly blast a hot pink driver gets my attention. Having spent more of the winter focusing on hockey than golf, I have greatly enjoyed learning more about Bubba Watson this past week. Not only did I enjoy learning about a highly talented PGA golfer, but I also learned about a thoughtful and generous man who believes in supporting worthy causes. As Bubba shares, “I’m trying to be more active in charity giving and helping.”

Bubba brings joy to many. His charities range far, including children, women, and cancer causes. As a female athlete—and women’s ice hockey pioneer in the 1970’s– I certainly appreciate his interest, highlighted in his remark, “I know (women’s sports) don’t have a big platform so I felt like I needed to do it,” he said. “I just felt like I should do it.” Not surprising, his wife, Angie, is a former basketball player. Last year, Bubba donated $50,000 to aid the relief effort for the devastating earthquake in Japan. More recently, he kicked off his inspiring “Bubba & Friends: Drive to a Million” campaign. For every drive he hits over 300 yards, Ping will donate $300 to a cancer-related charity for every drive Bubba hits over 300 yards. Knowing far too many people diagnosed with cancer, I certainly appreciate his important support! Given he has hit 410 yards, and now won the Masters, he is on his way to contributing significantly!

For now, though, I hope Bubba can enjoy the moment and his accomplishments from his week in Augusta! And I hope Louis Oosthuizen can appreciate his great effort and double eagle as well. What an exciting weekend, full of fun surprises…especially that playoff shot out of the trees!

http://www.nesn.com/2012/02/jeremy-lin-hits-game-winner-for-knicks-last-second-win-in-toronto-video.html

While following American Pharoah these past weeks, I was curious to read a comment made by his trainer, Bob Baffert. After winning the Kentucky Derby, May 2, Baffert shared that his winner did not bring his “super A-game” to the race. What most struck me about this remark was that–like humans–animals have their on and off days. In other words, they may experience the state of flow much like their two-legged athletic counterparts. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s seminal work on flow reveals that we—including people who are not athletes–can access the state of flow, a place where our skills are sufficiently challenged to keep us fully engaged, skirting either boredom or anxiety. One who is in flow is not only completely focused on their pursuit, but they are also driven from a place of intrinsic motivation. It is in this focused, motivated place that we perform our best, effortlessly. I loved the image of American Pharoah running full out.

Two weeks later, May 16, American Pharoah did not disappoint. At the Preakness Stakes’ Pimlico Race Course, he won by seven lengths, inclement weather and all. Not only that, he was the first horse in over twenty years to win after starting from the rail. After the Preakness Stakes, Baffert shared, “He brought his A-game today.” In other words, he was fully in a flow state. To witness that race was breathtaking, making for exciting suspense for New York.

By June 6, the day of the one-and-a-half mile Belmont Stakes and third race for the Triple Crown, American Pharoah’s popularity had skyrocketed around the world. Would there be the first triple crown winner in almost four decades? With millions of people from around the world watching, once again, American Pharoah demonstrated his peak performance. As his trainer Bob Baffert succinctly stated after the climactic race, “Down the backside he was in his groove…” He won by 5 ½ lengths in a wire-to-wire victory with the 6th fastest time in history. And what a historic and emotional moment!

What a treat to witness the first Triple Crown winner in a generation—37 years to be specific–with my mother and daughters by my side, surrounded by three other generations of best friends.

By: Devin Tringale

The Men’s hockey locker room is much more than a place where our team prepares for practices and games – it’s our sanctuary. It’s where teammates morph into brothers and where stories morph into legends. It’s a place that never truly leaves us, even when most of us are miles away over the summer. Even now, sitting at my desk in Winthrop House, I’m able to imagine every inch of it.

Inside wafts the familiar smell of equipment.  Rolls of tape screech across blades and shin pads. Velcro clings and rips as teammates search for the sweet spot on their pads. The NHL Network hums constantly in the background, game highlights flickering on the screens in the periphery. Two stalls down, an age old dispute rages over whether or not a goalie should’ve made a particular save.  “How DIDN’T he have that!” This rattles Trabes, our own goalie, who chirps back, “You think you could EVER get across the crease that fast?”

Stretching, rolling out, watching film, rehabbing injuries, hanging out, joking, arguing, celebrating; the daily routines reinforce an association. This is home. At a glance, it’s orderly and uniform – team rules. But, venturing inside of some of the stalls, you get a more profound sense of the athlete’s universal home away from home. Protein powder, toothbrushes, deodorant sticks, footballs, tennis rackets, phone chargers, pictures, books, letters, dress shirts, street clothes, and sneakers all clutter the recesses deep inside.

Cutting away from the hustle and bustle of daily student life, you come to find there’s nothing more settling than the vibe in that locker room.  Those four walls are a Fortress of Solitude for the 29 members of the Harvard hockey roster; and for many, they act much like a bunker, providing space to briefly retreat from the busy life of a Harvard student-athlete.

Thinking about what I would write about for my version of “Around the Yard,” I thought I might talk about the interesting classes I’m taking – like the one that follows the current presidential election, or perhaps the one that analyzes the historic roots and causes of human trafficking. I thought I might talk about the wealth of extra curricular resources and clubs that Harvard has to offer. But finally I decided that I’d write about what has touched me most outside of hockey this year, something that was actually born as an idea when talking amongst teammates in – you guessed it – the locker room.

Early in September, we met with Adam La Reau, a former NAVY Seal, who started serving as our team mentor a few years ago while attending Harvard Kennedy School. We discussed our collective goals for the upcoming season, both on and off the ice. We decided that as an off-ice goal, we would make a considerable effort to engage in community service as a team.

We started by volunteering at the Cristo Rey High School – doing yard work, painting, and providing general maintenance around their building. We also participated as a team in the Terry Fox Run and volunteered at the homeless shelter in Harvard Square. Partaking in these events allowed me to better grasp just how fortunate we all are to be apart of this incredible university and to be surrounded by the amazing people that call this place home.

Despite these humbling experiences, the most impactful community service effort occurred last month. On Sunday, January 23rd, after a weekend spent in the far away lands of Hamilton and Ithaca, New York, facing off against Colgate and then Cornell, we were able to turn our locker room sanctuary into something far more special than it usually is. In conjunction with One Summit, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to help children battling cancer build resilience through experiential learning and mentorship with a NAVY Seal,” the Harvard Hockey team welcomed some brave and inspirational children into our second home.

While the children usually spend the day building confidence by overcoming the challenge of rock climbing, our version of One Summit was geared to have them tackle an objective completely foreign to most of them – learning how to skate. Each of us suited one or two of the kids up, laced their skates, and got them zipping around the ice.  It only took minutes to recognize these were some of the most confident, most talented, and most courageous children we would ever meet – and that we would be the ones learning a lesson from the day.

That day I had the pleasure of skating with most of the kids, but spent the majority of my time with a little guy named Jaxson, an amazing middle-schooler from New Hampshire who was wise well beyond his years. To my surprise, I had one of the best conversations I’ve had with anyone in the past several months. We discussed all facets of our lives – favorite sports, pet lizards, friendship, what it’s like to share a room with a brother, favorite books and movies, and our long term goals. I even got a little refresher on some seventh grade science.

I learned some valuable lessons from Jaxson and the others that day, applicable anywhere in life, school, or hockey. These kids reinforced just how important it is, in life and sports, to be resilient. The positivity that radiated from each of them, despite the challenges they face, showed me that there are very few circumstances that I can truly justify being negative – no matter how crushing an injury or overtime loss may seem. In retrospect, engaging with these kids taught me more directly about life in one afternoon than any lecture could ever hope to.

Due to experiences like our day with One Summit, the community service initiative that our team embarked on has been one of the most rewarding experiences of this school year. Realizing that we can extend our roof to others in the community – complete with all the reassurance, the comfort, and the electricity – even if only for an afternoon – was a discovery that drew a line across my experience as a Harvard student-athlete.

Although each member of our team is involved in an array of different activities and finds himself, in one way or another, engulfed in the student life so unique to this college – in true, team-sport fashion, the collective effort of our team to engage in community service has had a far bigger impact than we would have been able to make on an individual basis. And while the success of a team will always be measured by wins, losses, and playoff performances (and trust me, we’re veryconcerned about these things – we’re playing to clinch an Ivy League Championship at home this Friday!), a team’s character can always be measured by the impact they have on the community they’re a part of.

JIMMY VESEY: WINGER / HARVARD

I met with a bunch of teams at the NHL Scouting Combine in Toronto in 2012, but one interview particularly stands out.

For those who don’t know how combine interviews work, you basically sit there at a round table with all of a team’s scouts, staff and management and just get peppered with questions.

So I’m sitting there, 18 years old, nervously sweating in my suit, and some guy sitting at the table pipes up.

“Oh, so you’re going to Harvard. Do you want to be a student or a hockey player?”

I was completely taken aback. I’m pretty sure that I botched the rest of the interview because I was so rattled by that question. I probably should’ve brushed it off, but in that type of situation you start second-guessing yourself.

Is Harvard actually the right fit? Is it going to hurt my hockey career?

Looking back, I kind of wish I had told this guy to pound sand, because he definitely had no clue about who I was or how special playing at Harvard was.

I grew up in a hockey family. My dad played hockey. So did all of my cousins. My younger brother Nolan and I didn’t have a choice, really. From the time we could walk, we were on skates.

Everything growing up was hockey, hockey, hockey. My parents made every sacrifice possible so that Nolan and I could play, and my little sister  got dragged to just about every rink in North America.

I can remember waking up for 5 a.m. mite hockey games with my dad when the sun wasn’t even up yet.  If I said I was tired, he’d say, “C’mon, Jimmy, someday this is all gonna be worth it.” Then on the way home we would pretend to announce my name as the first overall pick in my draft year.  Those days were the best; I still remember that stuff like it was yesterday.…

With the first pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft … the Boston Bruins are proud to select … from North Reading, Mass. … Jimmy Vesey.

In school, when teachers asked what we wanted to be when we got older, I used to be too embarrassed to say an NHL player. I thought they would laugh at that thought. I mean, in reality, how likely was it that I would actually play in the NHL? The percentages are extremely small. I used to make up some phony job — I don’t know, maybe an astronaut — but the truth is, I’ve never even considered pursuing anything else as a career; ever since I was a kid I knew that hockey was what I wanted to do.

Last spring, after my junior season at Harvard, I had the opportunity to realize my childhood dream of playing in the NHL. The Nashville Predators, the team that drafted me, were telling me I would step into their lineup on a line with Mike Fisher for the end of the season and the playoffs. It was crazy to think how my college season ended on a Saturday and I could’ve been in their lineup by Tuesday. Could’ve been rubbing elbows with guys like Shea Weber, Mike Ribeiro and James Neal. Could’ve been playing against Patrick Kane in the first round of the playoffs. No brainer, right?

I thought about how broke I was at college, how annoying it can get sharing a 2003 Toyota Camry with my brother in the summer, how my mom’s been saying for a few years now that she wants a new kitchen… I’d be able to fix all that, I thought.

It was the toughest decision I’ve ever made, but I turned the offer down and decided to go back to college for my senior year. I actually turned down my dream for another year of bus rides, dining hall food and homework. Pretty nuts, huh?

When I officially announced my decision, everyone — and I mean everyone — seemed to have a comment. Some people thought I must have been doing it to hold out for free agency this summer, while some people couldn’t fathom the fact that I was going back at all. How bad could I really want to be a hockey player if I was choosing to go back to school?

I waited three days after our season ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament before officially announcing my decision, but to be honest, I had made up my mind two weeks before. We had just beaten Yale, our biggest rival, in an absolute battle of an ECAC tournament quarterfinal playoff series. Going into that series, I was something like 0-9-1 in my career against Yale. In the third and deciding game one of my best friends, Pat McNally, tied the score with three minutes left, and we went on to win in double overtime. I always joke around with him and tell him that if he didn’t score that goal I might not still be at Harvard.

The postgame celebration after winning that series was hands-down one of the best moments of my life. One of the boys’ favorite words at school is electric, and I’ll tell you, that locker-room was definitely electric. Everyone screaming, jumping up and down … I must’ve hugged all thirty of my teammates five times each, almost on the verge of tears. Looking back now, it seems like it happened in slow motion, but it was in that locker-room that I fully realized, “All right, these guys are my best friends. All right, I’m not ready to leave this place. Nope. No way.”

Some people might not have understood my decision to come back, but maybe they don’t fully understand what the college hockey experience is truly like. For me, I’ve loved every second of my time at Harvard, both at the rink and away from it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still fully committed to becoming an NHL player and having as long a career as I can, but there are certain aspects of college that I just didn’t want to give up if I didn’t have to. Like the two things people always say, “College is the best time of your life,” and, “You can never get those four years back.” So I didn’t really see the rush.

First off, I would’ve had a hard time looking my coaches in the eyes and telling them I was leaving. I’ve come a long way as a hockey player in my time at college, and that’s definitely a result of the world-class coaching staff I’ve played for. When I came to school as a young, naïve freshman, all I cared about was scoring goals. Now, I’m more of a complete player … a “200-foot player,” as coach Donato always says. One of the things I’m most proud of at school is that I’ve been on our top penalty-kill unit the past two years. For sure, I still think scoring a goal is one of the best feelings in the world, but something about it is a little better when it’s done within the team.

Coach Donato, coach Pearl, coach Rassey, coach Eklund and coach Mullen — you guys have all helped me immensely on the ice as a hockey player, but to me it’s even more commendable how much you have helped me as a human being. Thank you for everything.

One of my favorite things about college hockey is how sick it is to play for your school. Each team has so much history and tradition. It’s a cool feeling to be playing for something so much bigger than yourself. At Harvard, you look around the rink … you can see the banners, the championships, the old pictures. A lot of people before us have invested so much into the program. Every single one of our home games, there are alumni there, and they’re some pretty big names. I’m talking Billy Cleary, the Fusco brothers, Lane MacDonald — all former Olympians. Talking to them, their passion for Harvard Hockey is palpable. You can tell that they put everything they had into the jersey and that the same is expected of you. You hold yourself to a higher standard as a result.

It feels good to wear your team gear around campus; everyone knows you’re on the team, and girls love hockey players (Ahhh, maybe not so much at Harvard, actually). But seriously, there’s just something special about seeing your friends, the other athletes and everybody else around campus. It’s a tight-knit community, everyone’s pulling for each other, and everyone shares the same hatred for our Ivy League competition. When you look in the stands during a game and see all your buddies there, it puts a little more jump in your step. You don’t want to let them down, either.

Last, but definitely not least, I came back this year to be with the boys for one more season. When I say, “the boys,” I’m not just talking about my teammates. I’m also referring to our equipment guy Odie, our athletic trainers Matt and Chad, our media guy Brock, the fellas at the rink (Joe, Scotty and Brendan) and our hockey ops manager Flem.

When I got a little bit older, my dad used to always tell me that I’d never be on a team closer than the ones in college. And, now that I’m a wise old senior and my college career is coming to a close, I can 100 percent see where he was coming from all those years ago.

College hockey is much different than pro. There aren’t any trades, there aren’t any performance bonuses and no one is playing for their next contract. Once everyone gets on campus in September, we come together as a team, united by the common goal of winning an NCAA championship.

And for the next seven months, you truly gain 29 brothers. At Harvard, we all live within a one-mile radius of each other. I mean, my linemate, Alex Kerfoot, has one of the biggest muffins in the league; we live in separate dorms at school, but he could probably stand in his room and hit my bedroom window with a wrister. We eat together, we walk to the rink together, take classes together, go out together and on Friday and Saturday nights, we battle together. College is an ultrastressful environment — we’re balancing school, hockey, internships, our social lives and so many other things. When you’re part of a group as close as a hockey team, being able to lean on your teammates and the feeling of, “We’re all in this together,” gives you a little bit more assurance going into each day.

Choosing to play at Harvard was one of the greatest decisions of my life, and I think a lot of that comes from how good a group of guys my teammates are. I know when I’m older and I look back at my college years, I’m going to wish I could jump back into the memories I made with these guys. I’ll pretty much miss it all — summer dogs, nights in Lamont, the Thon, the Ward, 9 Linden, football tailgates … I might even miss the Sunday morning bag-skates when we laid an egg on Saturday night (thanks, Coach). I’m proud to say that the guys I went through all of this with will be my friends for life.

Beyond hockey, staying for my senior year has given me the opportunity to graduate from Harvard. One of the things I’m most proud about is that I’m from Boston. I come from a long line of blue-collar Bostonians.… City people — that’s who we are. Not many people in my family have had the chance to go to college, so I like to think that when I get my Harvard degree this spring, it’ll be a testament to all of their hard work, because I definitely know I didn’t get here by myself.

I know going to college for all four years isn’t exactly the most conventional hockey path, but I can’t imagine having done it any other way.

Last time I checked, the NHL’s still right where it was last spring.