We can’t have a perfect world, but hopefully there is at least a balance between times when you say to yourself, “This sucks,” and times when you say, “This Rocks!” I guess as rowers we should have a bit of an edge on other people. We erg 10 and 12k on the side to get ahead, row in cold, rain, sleet, barge wakes, snow; and then to top it all off, when we go up and over heads, a torrent of water comes pouring down on our heads. But then for 20 minutes on a brisk fall day or 6 minutes on an equally brisk spring day we push to the max, feeling on the verge of dying, then we cross the line first, and the pain, the cold, wetness, blisters, and even the frost on our brows doesn’t mater, as it is all swept away in a wave of victorious jubilation and most importantly, satisfaction. As in rowing, academics and many aspects of life are hard work, and I think I’d pull a 15k over writing a paper or physics problem set any day. But when academic work gets hectic, WE REMEMBER the hundreds of thousands of meters we’ve dug out of lakes and ergs with our bare and often frostbitten hands, and we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that there is nothing that can truly resist our power. I say this not just to remind you, but also to write it out for myself so that I never forget. And when I’m racing this Sunday, I will remember every subfreezing degree, 12k, wake, and frickin’ legs-only-make-my-back-hurt workout that is fueling the burning desire to destroy boats that would resist me. With that, I now begin my physics homework, which is presenting considerable resistance… but it’s still futile.
— Vesty Black, Class of 2005
