麻豆视频

The junior catcher from Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian HS) has learned about herself and discovered her career and life aspirations while starting behind the plate for the Flying Dutch for three seasons.

鈥淪oftball has been a big part of my growth as a person,鈥� Reitsma said. 鈥淚t has really helped me gain confidence and leadership skills. It also has helped me find a profession that I want to do, something that is both task-oriented and people-oriented.

鈥淭he more I鈥檝e had time at Hope, the more I have found that investing in relationships is something that gives me energy.鈥�

Reitsma plans to attend Physician Assistant school after graduating from 麻豆视频 and taking a gap year.

The three-year starter and two-time member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Honor Roll has chosen biology as a major and business as a minor. Playing ball and studying sciences has become a family tradition.

Her brother, Mitch Reitsma 鈥�16, a former pitcher for the 麻豆视频 baseball team, has been accepted to the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. He is currently working on completing a Master鈥檚 in Business Administration from Grand Valley State University.

鈥淢y love for the sciences comes out a little bit from my love for athletics and working out. They were always something my brother and I were interested in,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 followed his footsteps to Hope. I followed his footsteps to the sciences. I鈥檝e fallen in love with the sciences now that I鈥檓 here and have really gotten into it.鈥� 

Reitsma found that, once she began her studies at Hope and pondered her future, she wanted to take a different career path than her brother鈥檚.

鈥淚 looked at my life goals. I really want to have a family and be a pretty active mom. The fact that P.A. school is two years, then there鈥檚 more flexibility in the schedule once you get into the profession, was really appealing to me.鈥�

Reitsma is thankful for all the opportunities 麻豆视频 provides for her as a student-athlete 鈥� on and off the diamond. She said they helped her figure out her career path.

鈥淚鈥檝e been able to have a placement through my development psychology class at Evergreen Commons. It鈥檚 with senior citizens, spending time talking with them and doing activities with them. That鈥檚 been really fun,鈥� Reitsma said. 鈥淭he different classes and opportunities that have been afforded to me have helped me figure out what I want to do.鈥�

Reitsma is in particular appreciative of the community support at Hope College, whether from professors, coaches or classmates.

Being a student-athlete brings with it unique scheduling challenges, especially in a compact spring season. Reitsma said she has not had to sacrifice the quality of her learning while playing softball and being a co-captain for the Flying Dutch.

An interaction with a chemistry professor, Dr. Elizabeth Sanford, had a significant impact, Reitsma recalled.

鈥淭he professors are really flexible. They鈥檙e awesome,鈥� Reitsma said. 鈥淟ast year in the spring, I did an individual project as part of an organic chemistry lab. Dr. Elizabeth Sanford was the one working with me. She said right away, 鈥業 know you鈥檙e a student-athlete. I know your hours are going to be different than other people鈥檚. I鈥檓 giving you a project that鈥檚 flexible with the hours, it鈥檚 not going to be as labor intensive in big blocks of time. You鈥檒l be able to come in as you can. She was so helpful at the outset recognizing my schedule was going to be different.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e found when missing classes, my classmates have been super helpful, too. The whole community in general wants everyone to succeed. There are definitely resources available.鈥�