BOSTON, Mass. – While the life of a student-athlete can be daunting at best with the amount of time and dedication it takes, the Emerson Women's Volleyball Team is showcasing just how invaluable the lessons athletes learn not only in the classroom, but in their field of play. For these Lions, success in life comes not only from academics and career pursuits, but also in the lessons they have learned as teammates.

"There's a certain discipline you learn as a student-athlete," stated Jamie Morgan, "we learn a level of communication that carries into the workplace as our communication as teammates we know is paramount to our success." Morgan, a senior captain traveled to Emerson's L.A. Program for the summer where she interned for Illusion Industries Inc., a special effects makeup studio that provides productions in prosthetic makeup, animatronics, puppets, specialty costumes and design. 

"I had to learn to juggle my commitments," continued Morgan, "while I had a 9-to-5 to work, I also knew I had a commitment to my team to come back in shape and ready to compete. Being out in L.A. with my teammate Brandy (Eggermann) was also a huge influence because we supported each other and drove one another to both our commitments."

Eggermann, another senior captain for the Lions interned in Development at Comedy Central while taking two classes and serving as an RA over the summer as well. 

On her experience she claimed, "It can take an immense amount of sacrifice to find time to work out, time that around all of the things we've dedicated ourselves to can mean sacrificing social time to make sure we were still striving to be the best on the court. It was also amazing that so many of the Emerson alumnus are out in L.A. and are former volleyball players so we always had someone willing to play beach or practice with us. It really showcased the amazing Emerson connection that the alumnus share."

"What we have learned as athletes really is unique," continued Eggermann, "while I was nervous heading into my internship, I soon realized that I possessed communication skills that I learned as a volleyball player. I knew how to always maintain a level of mutual respect, pitch ideas, respect everyone's ideas and take the lead more so than a lot of my peers. It's reaffirmed that all the work I've done in my athletic realm has paid forward in my career path as well."

Alyssa Thorne agreed on the sentiments as well stating, "Coming from Emerson I felt far more prepared than some of my peers that I worked with," said the senior captain who interned at Catsnake Films in London. "I felt with my background as an athlete I found a way to connect more with people, like I consistently have to do as a teammate to be successful."

"As an athlete you're always on the go, and you always push when people ask for more, because your teammates always do the same. You learn to always rise to a challenge even when it's a tough pinnacle to reach because you know the effort will be worth it. We've learned that here as teammates at Emerson."

The Lions will hit the road as they travel to the Western New England Tournament next weekend against Elms, Western Connecticut and Western New England next Friday and Saturday.