By, Jocelyn Visnov, Web Editor/Asst. Production Editor
Emily LaPointe is making strides in both her athletic and professional career. Number 11 on the Manhattan Women’s Basketball Team, LaPointe not only manages her academic course load and being a Division I athlete, but also an internship to further her professional goals at Montefiore Hospital.
As a junior working towards her Bachelors of Science in Radiation Therapy, LaPointe is on her second of three rotations in a clinical internship program through the School of Science. Having previously worked with New York Presbyterian Hospital at their Columbia site, LaPointe now works nearby at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx.
The Quad spoke with LaPointe to learn about how she manages her schedule as an athlete and intern.
The Quad: How did you find this internship opportunity?
Emily LaPointe: So it’s built into the program [in the school of science] … They set us up with these internships. And we get credit for internships, you have to pass, they’re called like competencies. You have to pass a certain number per semester and per rotation in the hospital.
TQ: What made you decide to participate in this program?
EL: So I started doing research and I wanted to stay in the health field, I always wanted to work in health care … My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have radiation. So I kind of felt like that’s what I was meant to do. I was looking into the program I saw and it caught my eye. And then at the time, it just so happened that my aunt was going to have to go through it as well. So I almost felt like God was saying “You’re doing what you’re supposed to do.”
TQ: What do you hope to gain from this internship?
EL: I’m just to learn to kind of be knowledgeable all-around about there are different ways and different treatment techniques … And it’s a field that I think, yes, there’s books and stuff that goes into it, but you really need to learn hands-on you know, setting up patients, you can talk about it but unless you’re doing it like you don’t actually have a feel for what you’re doing. I just hope that these internships allow me to eventually be the best radiation therapist I can be to succeed in my job and I want to make sure that I never feel like I have to second guess what I’m doing and just be confident in what I’m doing.
TQ: So you have your internship and you have your classes, but basketball is also a big part of your life. How did you sort that all out? How do you manage?
EL: This semester honestly has been a little bit challenging because I do have class Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. I have my classes, so when I come back from work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I’ll go to do a workout, then I go right to night class from six to nine. So it is tiring, I have my days where I’m like, ‘Oh man, I want to just lay down and take a nap.’ … [I’m] just trying to know that there’s a bigger picture down the road and that I can do it. You know, I think I’m able to handle it, and I’ve been handling it well. I just want to be kind of the best person all-around student-athletes and kind of embark on you know, when the ball stops bouncing this will be my career.
TQ: How do you find time for socializing and relaxing?
EL: I think that’s kind of something that’s been challenging for me obviously my Monday through Wednesday. I don’t do much social interaction, besides the people that I see at work … So it is hard but I just kind of have whatever free time that I do have. I tried to just surround myself with my friends and people that I love to just kind of take my mind off of all the craziness that I do have going on.
TQ: How do you take care of your health during your busy schedule?
EL: There are definitely some others where I kind of feel like my legs feel like they’re gonna fall off. I’m exhausted. You know, I have days where it’s worse than others. But I consider myself a fairly mentally strong person … I am on my feet a lot. So I just tried to take care of my body, you know, I have to eat right. I try to take care of myself physically and mentally just getting as much rest as I can … It’s important to recognize what your body needs and just feed your body what it’s telling you.
TQ: Where does basketball fall? Is it something that stresses you out?
EL: That’s always been a comfort, I’ve been doing it for so long. So it has always been a comfort and I do love to be around my team … I have to find time to get in there extra to work out. So I find those moments like ‘okay, I’m in here by myself’ or you know, just working out by myself is when I’m in a good space. And sometimes surprisingly as much as it can tire you out. It kind of gives me a little bit more energy.
TQ: Do you have any advice for student-athletes who doubt if they can do it all?
EL: So my advice is you are actually able to handle more than you think you’re capable of …Like we’re here not just as athletes, we’re student-athletes. And our education is just as important as our athletic career. So put your academics first and go for what you want to do in your future.