Women's Basketball Summer Update: Junior Bridgette Mitchell

DURHAM, N.C.-- Here is part six of a 12-part series of diary entries from the members of the Duke women's basketball team. All 12 student-athletes will be sharing with the Blue Devil fans what they are doing with their summer.

Today we have junior Bridgette Mitchell, who is a native of Trenton, N.J., with junior sophomore Karima Christmas coming up next.
Hola Blue Devils,

I hope you all are enjoying your summer as much as I am. I am going to tell you all a little about what I have been doing these past two months.

If I could describe my summer in one word, that word would be “growth.” I have grown so much this summer! Once school ended on May 2nd, I relaxed at home (Trenton stand up!) until May 13th. While home, I made the commitment to myself that when I returned back to Duke for summer school, I was going to work hard every day to become a better basketball player. I was going to put in extra time in the gym as well as in the weight room (yes, I said extra time in the weight room).

So first session, Remy [Carrem Gay], KJ [Keturah Jackson], Joy Cheek, and I were all down here “putting' in work.” We were running, shooting, and lifting a ton! It was so much fun for me. I just kept thinking to myself, “We are going to be so nice this season! My teammates are out here working hard and I'm in here working hard, this hard work is going to pay off for us when the time comes.”

In addition to playing a ton of basketball for the first session of summer school, I was also taking two classes! I took a Social Psychology course. In that class we basically learned about human to human interactions and kind of why we humans behave the way we do. My professor was Ashley. She knew her stuff and she could dress really well.

My second class was SPANISH. OMG! This was one of the toughest classes that I have had here at Duke. We met for two hours a day and spoke nothing but SPANISH. I love SPANISH; hence me taking the class, but this was like a whole new SPANISH. This was the reading of a text book, speaking in front of the class, and pass exams type of SPANISH.

Although it was extremely challenging for me, I PASSED!!!! No, you all don't understand...I PASSED! Passing SPANISH 2 motivated me to continue with SPANISH 63 for the second summer session. SPANISH 63 has been treating me well, but I think that it is only because it is my only class and my professor makes it fun. Talk about a challenging academic summer.

I did one other amazing thing this summer that helped me grow as a leader. I ran our Women's Basketball Camp! Each camp that we had, I played the role of “camp leader.” The other counselors (like legit adults) and all the campers had to listen to me! It was fun. Young people are amazing and I love them so much. My teammates will tell you, I love kids and would love to work with them during my spare time and when I am done playing basketball.

Although the “Little Hoopers” are my favorites, the older girls are really cool and have so much potential to be great basketball players. While at camp we all were able to “get silly” and learn new drills to become better players. I enjoyed myself and I hope they did also.

That basically because of this summer, I can speak SPANISH better and I am a better basketball player. I learned a lot about myself in terms of being a leader as well as became mentally and physically stronger. I'm looking forward to a great season!

Until next time, Bridgette “B” Mitchell #15