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Angel Thompson Senior Profile
4/29/2015 11:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse, Athletics
Durham, N.C. -- Recently, GoDuke.com sat down with senior Angel Thompson to discuss her time at Duke.
GoDuke.com: Where has been your favorite place to compete with Duke women's lacrosse?
Angel Thompson: I'd say Koskinen because it's our home field and we have the biggest crowd at those games. Not only can our families come, but a lot of our fellow student-athletes and professors come. It's been cool to have such a great support system there. And with the new video board, it's really cool.
GoDuke.com: What's a lesson you've learned from this program and from playing lacrosse that you'll carry with you moving forward?
AT: I'm a very analytical person, so I really learned how to be decisive from playing lacrosse. As a person playing defense, we always say, 'Indecision is the wrong decision.' Just being decisive on what you want, whether that's a multiple choice test or a decision on the field or a choice outside of lacrosse – just be decisive and go for it. Also, just be true to yourself and don't try to fit into any molds you see, whether that's stereotypes of your team or stereotypes of being a Duke athlete. Don't be afraid to march to the beat of your own drum because people want to follow someone who's being themselves, who's unique and who knows who they are and is willing to stay true to that and not just succumb to pressures.
GoDuke.com: What has been your proudest academic achievement at Duke?
AT: Receiving the Heidrick Family Scholarship was amazing. It's crazy to think that four years ago, I was a high school student in awe of even being able to go to Duke. Here I am receiving a postgraduate scholarship from the athletic department to go and do things with my life. I just would have never expected this. Obviously everyone works hard, everyone has goals. But seeing that hard work and sticking to what I wanted playing out to my benefit has just been really, really cool. And just to see all the people that I've impacted through my time here – that interviewed me or texted me after they heard I received the scholarship and were so proud of me.
GoDuke.com: What does it mean to you to represent Duke University?
AT: It means a lot because Duke is such a blend of so many things. We have the athletic powerhouse component, the academic excellence component and the component of being a very heavy international school so we have a global perspective. A lot of people from Duke end up going out and changing the world. I think that Duke is so well-rounded, and to be able to represent a university that has so many avenues of not only success, but touching the world, is crazy. That I will even be a Duke graduate is insane. Where I come from, going to Duke seems so unattainable. It's cool to show people that no matter where you come from, you can get to where you want to be. You just have to follow your dreams and not give up on them. Duke represents that for me – that dreams do come true and that hard work and forming relationships with people does pay off.
GoDuke.com: What is something you're going to miss when you graduate?
AT: I'll miss being able to take time out of my day and be free from pressure. When we're playing lacrosse, it's fun and we're outside and we get to be loud and crazy. It's so dramatically different from my day that's filled with meetings and tutoring sessions and class. I have an allotted time of my day where I'm allowed to check out from all of that pressure and focus on something that's completely unrelated. I'm going to miss having that time set aside just to do something different and be free of pressures.
GoDuke.com: Do you have any superstitions or pregame rituals?
AT: I braid my hair in the same way before every game. Gabby [Moise] and I pray before the game starts. We always have pregame dance parties in the locker room that I always participate in. I don't think I could ever just sit there and watch everyone get hyped up without wanting to join them.
GoDuke.com: How did you get started playing in goal?
AT: I was actually an attacker back in the day, in junior high school. Our goalie got hurt and so I was like, 'Why not, I'll try it.' I liked it and it was fun to see people get so excited to shoot the ball and then have it saved. I guess I found myself in the position. It's been great.
#GoDuke
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