Athletics

meet Amanda Leavell

Presbyterian School ’09
St. John’s School ’13 
Princeton University ’17 

Spend less time on your phones and on social media and more time having face-to-face conversations developing deep, meaningful relationships with your classmates.
I grew up playing so many sports—soccer, tennis, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, softball, swimming, field hockey—name it, and I’ve likely dabbled in it. Although I loved and was involved in many sports, I never wanted my identity to be linked to any of them. In college, I never told people I played lacrosse because in the classroom I wanted to be seen as a student rather than a student-athlete. It wasn’t until I started interviewing for jobs recently that I realized the profound impact athletics have had on my life. Not only have I become used to the physical demands of athletics—waking up at four in the morning for grueling workouts, two-a-days, constant conditioning and lifts—but sports have played a crucial role in developing my character, my ability to work with a team, and my inclination toward self-sacrifice.

The first time I picked up a lacrosse stick, I was in fifth grade at Presbyterian School. I had never heard of the sport before, but my science teacher suggested I come learn (she was also the lacrosse coach). I couldn’t afford a stick, so the athletic director allowed me to borrow one from the School. We began practices at the playground on Presbyterian’s campus, but when we needed more space, we moved to a small field off of Highway 59 across the street from Shipley’s Donuts (this was a few years before the OEC was built). I really enjoyed learning to throw and catch that year, but in sixth grade, I was forced to choose between lacrosse and track and field.

I decided to run track but got the experience of playing with a team in my fall and winter sports: field hockey and basketball. When I committed to play lacrosse at Princeton my junior year in high school, I came to understand that my experiences at Presbyterian School shaped me in ways I didn’t realize. I was recruited largely because of my speed and athleticism, both of which I developed during my time running track at PS. My middle school basketball coach also taught me deep lessons on humility along with respecting my teammates, coaches, opponents, and the game itself. The multi-sport background I came from at Presbyterian also encouraged me to continue playing all the sports I loved, which enabled me to thrive without getting burned out.

The teachers at Presbyterian played the most significant part in my adolescent development. They instilled a genuine love for learning in me. They made going to class enjoyable and gave me a rock-solid foundation that later eased my transition into higher education. Teachers encouraged me by teaching me to see the world in a different light and to develop a deep joy for learning and a longing for truth. The Bible classes (and later my involvement with First Presbyterian Church) that embedded the seeds of a deep love for Jesus in my heart impacted me most deeply. During my time at PS, I also began to gravitate toward human rights issues and became a mini human rights activist in a blue and green plaid jumper.

Additionally, walking through life with men and women who love Jesus intensely has enabled me to let go of our society’s standards of success and to chase after a different kingdom. Growing up, I was always a huge perfectionist. I measured my levels of achievement by my performance in the classroom, my social status outside the classroom, and my athletic execution on the field. In the moments of learning to let go of all these things and to simply chase after Christ, I found true freedom and what I would argue to be true success.