Ashley Herrick - Women's Tennis

Ashley Herrick is a senior captain on the Carnegie Mellon women's tennis team. Ashley is pursuing a degree in psychology.

As I unpacked my bags that early August morning with my mom at my side, I heard a yell from across the hall, “Ashley!” an unfamiliar voice bellowed. Soon, standing at my door was Danielle, a fellow tennis player who I had connected with just days before coming to Carnegie Mellon. As we chatted, I temporarily forgot that my mom would be leaving me at the end of the day and that I would embark on this new journey, alone. Coming from a small town and leaving my close-knit family behind was very intimidating to me, and at first, I struggled to handle the transition.

As Danielle and I walked to practice that first day, I had no idea what life as a Tartan athlete would be like. All I knew was that there was one thing in this unfamiliar environment that I was confident in: my ability to be a good tennis player. Little did I know that this skill would give me one of the greatest gifts of my undergraduate experience.

As friendly as Danielle was that first morning, the rest of the girls greeted me just as warmly, and our shared love for the sport of tennis, excitement to succeed, as well as our extensive traveling excursions bound us together instantaneously. Coach Andrew Girard was crucial in serving as not only a motivator for my athletic success, but as a constant guardian who demonstrated legitimate concern for both my teammates and myself. The team became a sort of family that has served as my source of support, confidence, and best friendships throughout my four years.

It would be easy to recall the many accomplishments that tennis and my teammates have allowed me: the inaugural ITA Indoor National Team Championship, four consecutive years as a top 10 nationally-ranked team, or the opportunity with my doubles partner Laura Chen to be a three-time All-American. Alternatively, I could explain the many skills that being a student-athlete has helped me develop that will be crucial to my success in the workplace, such as hard-work, time management, the ability to prioritize, and teamwork.

Yet, as I sat down for a recent graduate school interview, a professor said to me, “So, what are you going to do without tennis next year?” I sat there for a second in silence, realizing that I had not really contemplated the impact that graduation would bring upon my tennis career, and none of those accomplishments or skills flashed through my head. Instead, I remembered those things that have been unique to my experience as a Tartan: the ability to surround myself with people who understand the importance of taking pride in the work we engage in both on the court and in the classroom, the ability to represent one of the most prestigious schools in the nation and the unique environment that allowed me to develop a family away from my own.

So I responded the only way I knew how, “I’m not sure yet, I’m going to be lost without it.”