Connecticut College Soccer Camps

Victoria (Tori) Kretzmer, Connecticut College
Senior
Women's Soccer
Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Pathway: Public Health

Why did you choose to attend Connecticut College?
I chose to attend Connecticut College because of the balance between academics and athletics. At Conn, I get to take classes I enjoy and play the sport I love at a highly competitive level. Overall, being close to home, the beautiful campus, the academics, the faculty and people, and also the cute coffee shops on campus, are just a few of the many reasons why I chose Conn.

What is the best thing about being part of the NESCAC?
The best thing about being part of the NESCAC is that every game is a good game and it can be anyone’s game on any given day. In addition to the athletic programs, the NESCAC is made up of prestigious academic institutions, which attracts so many talented people and soccer players from all over the country. I am so proud to be a part of the NESCAC and am forever grateful for the experience.

What is one positive takeaway you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
The changes and unknowns are the most challenging part of the pandemic. However, the positive takeaway from all of those changes is learning how to be more flexible and resilient. This made me realize how life is unplanned, there are going to be obstacles, but that it is important to take a step back, breathe and adapt to those changes.

What extracurricular activities or service activities do you participate in?
Other than being on the soccer team at Conn, I am a Lab Assistant for the Chemistry Department, and a Sports Information Aide in the Athletic Department. After I took general chemistry, my lab instructor asked me if I wanted to prepare solutions and set up the labs for the first-year classes as a work study job. I really enjoy working in the lab and hope to work in a lab in the future. I became interested in working in the sports information office because I really enjoy watching hockey. I was trained to run the computer at the hockey games and input game stats.

What is your hometown famous for?
My hometown of Glastonbury, Connecticut is famous for our high school sports teams, specifically boy and girls soccer. When I was in high school, my team won three Class LL State Championships in a row, broke a Connecticut record for the number of consecutive wins and was ranked number one in the nation by the USA Today. Whenever I wear anything that has Glastonbury on it, people always ask about our soccer team, and it makes me proud.

What is something you enjoy doing that you never get tired of?
I love all things Harry Potter. I enjoy watching the movies, reading the books and going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. My whole family loves the series and it has become one of our traditions to watch all of the movies every year when we are all back at home. We have had so many good times at Harry Potter World through the years and we never get tired of going. I don’t care that we seem nerdy to other people, we always have a fun time!

What has been your favorite class outside of your major?
My favorite class outside of my major was either Controversies in Mental Health or Bioethics. Controversies in Mental Health focused on mental health in criminal justice and this topic is extremely interesting to me. I think a lot of what I learned in that class will help me in my career. My bioethics class was a challenging and thought-provoking course that made me look at controversial medical topics with a different perspective.

Who is your favorite professor?
My two favorite professors are Vicki Fontneau, who was my lab instructor for General Chemistry, and Professor Joe Schroeder, who was my Behavioral Neuroscience professor. I currently work for Professor Fontneau in the Chemistry Department as a Lab Assistant and Professor Schroeder is my major advisor and also oversaw my research this past summer. They are both amazing educators and they’ve challenged me and prepared me for the world after college. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with them outside of class and appreciate all of the support they have given me.

What internships/research projects have you participated in?
I was accepted as an intern at the Connecticut State Forensic Lab for the Summer of 2020. Unfortunately, the internship program was postponed due to COVID-19, but I hope to be able to complete the internship in the near future. As a result, I decided to create my own remote experience in order to gain more knowledge on the field of forensic science, forensic psychology, and forensic pathology (the careers fields I am interested in). Every week, I researched various topics within these fields and wrote research summaries. I learned a lot about research organization, how to condense a lot of important information, and I was able to narrow in on what I want to do specifically for my career.

What is your favorite place on your campus?
My favorite place on campus is the top of the green. The green is open, grassy space in the center of the dorms of our campus. At the top of the green, you can look out past the trees and see the Thames River emptying into the Long Island Sound. I love being so close to the ocean.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS
Three things on your bucket list?
- Travel to Europe
- Design and build my future house
- Learn to play an instrument

Favorite thing about your school?
The people

Favorite thing about fall? 
Apple fritters

Dogs or cats?
Dogs

Beach or mountains?
Beach

Favorite quote? 
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live” - Albus Dumbledore

Last show you binge watched?
Little Fires Everywhere

Last book you read?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Favorite sports hero/figure?
Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins

What makes you laugh the most?
My family

What phrase or saying does your coach say often?
“Don’t say sorry, just don’t do it again”