The seniors of Revere are busy people. Even if a student is not involved in sports or activities, they have the responsibility of not falling into “senioritis” and filling out college applications.  For the senior girls in basketball, their sport goes hand-in-hand with other responsibilities. Whether it is their personality traits they use daily or working shifts at a part-time job, the girls use these other responsibilities to continue growing in a sport they have participated in since they were children. 

Senior women’s basketball players Audrey Livesay, Jeanne Hujer and Emma Drushell have participated in basketball since a young age. This sport has been part of their lives and has helped them deal with the stresses of growing up. 

Livesay has experienced getting a big role as one of the captains of the team. She explained her thoughts as captain. 

“I feel like I’ve had more leadership skills, and I’m not someone who tries to boss people around and tell them what to do, but I try to set an example for younger players,” Livesay said. 

Livesay also talked about how this sport has changed for her over the years.

“It’s changed a lot as I’ve grown up . . . . But it’s helped change my life. It’s been a big part of me through elementary school, middle school and now high school; it has taken up a big portion of my life,” Livesay said.

One thing that has helped Livesay throughout her basketball career is something that has always been a part of her life, her shyness.

“Sometimes my quietness plays a good role because I’ve pulled myself together and am a little bit calmer than I’d say other people can be. Also with my quietness, I can lead by example more rather than telling them what to do more ‘just look at me and follow along’,”Livesay said.

Livesay likes this part of her personality because of the pluses it brings with that kind of job.

“The calmness and composure that is something I’ve always liked about myself because I don’t get super worked up about it and if I do it’s definitely about something that is important,” Livesay said. 

Something Livesay likes to put emphasis on is teamwork. 

“I don’t really care about my individual stats as I would rather have the team win, and I think because that matters so much to me I make my teammates better players just by getting in plays and helping them score,” Livesay said. 

Hujer, the other team captain this year, on top basketball, goes to CVCC to focus on her occupation before she finishes high school.  

“I go to CVCC, which is a big part of what I want to do when I grow up. So basically, there I’m getting my STNA [State tested nursing assistant certification], so that is what I’m working towards right now,” Hujer said. 

Hujer further explained what program she is involved in at CVCC. 

“I’m in the health careers program. I’m just learning all the basic nursing skills, and then I can eventually get my state tested nursing assistant certification [so I can work] in hospitals right out of high school,” Hujer said.

Hujer talked about what she is able to do with the certification.

“[I will become] a state tested nursing assistant certification, [which means] that you are not a nurse, but directly below [the position of] a nurse. You can go into nursing homes and provide care for elderly. Or you can work at hospitals and care for people,” Hujer said. 

Hujer explained how things she learns at CVCC help during basketball.

“If there are any injuries, I kind of understand it. It kind of gives me the leadership role in a way just because [becoming a nurse is] very hard, [and] it just shows you have to have a lot of dedication,” Hujer said.

The teamwork aspect in her life is how Hujer’s passions go hand in hand. Trusting others around Hujer to know what they are doing is important in both nursing and basketball. 

“You are constantly having to rely on other people to make sure they are doing their job and you are doing yours. . .  In basketball [it’s the same thing,] you are relying on your teammates and they are relying on you,” Hujer said. 

Senior Drushell has a job at a gym where she works on her basketball skills outside of practice or a match. Drushell explained how she started talking to trainers to help her.

“At the gym I make smoothies,and some of the trainers will come and get smoothies. Once they found out I played basketball, and [I found out] that they were trainers, they offered to give me a few sessions; I took them up on that,” Drushell said. 

She goes into the gym outside of her work schedule for one-on-one clinics to help her skills with the trainers.

“[The trainers] helped me out with post-moves and the way I should shoot my shot,” Drushell said. 

Drushell explained why being a senior this year gives the sport a different feeling rather than past years. 

“Every time I step on the court, every practice is like my last Friday. It might be the last first high school game I’ll be playing. It’s different from the other years because I know there’s next year. This year, it’s like you got to put it all out there because it’s your last year,” Drushell said. 

Drushell talked about how basketball has shaped her high school experience.

“Being on a team has helped me a lot through my high school experience because it is such a good family bond. Having someone you could text to just go and hang out with people,” Drushell said.

Drushell talked about her realizations this year is going to be her last year playing for Revere. 

“There are bittersweet moments because I’m like ‘oh my gosh. I won’t be playing for Revere again’ because that is what I’ve grown up with my whole entire life,” Drushell said. 

The seniors this year will carry the memories they made in basketball outside of high school. Whatever responsibilities come their way, they will remember the importance of teamwork, dedication and kindness into adulthood that they learned while playing their childhood sport.