With only one semester remaining for seniors at Elizabethtown College, Jillian Schwarz is nothing short of busy. Successfully balancing her busy schedule with the art of her backswing for the past four years, her physical and mental drive are beyond compare.
Schwarz is majoring in psychology, with minors in fine arts and human services. She is heavily involved in the college’s dance club, Emotion, the psychology club, math club and works as a peer mentor and blue jay ambassador.
“The activities offer a different point of view for me,” Schwarz said. “It is nice to have a place to do things with a group rather than playing an individual sport.”
Along with her academic career, jobs and extracurricular activities, she has golf practice and tournaments at least three times a week.
“There’s a lot to do, so I put everything into a calendar–that way I know I have to do it,” Schwarz said. “That being said, I always make sure to do things that I know are good for me like waking up early to go to the gym to start my day with a blank slate.”
Serving as the women’s golf team captain this season, players from both the women’s, and sometimes men’s, teams look to her for leadership.
“I think my leadership style is very collaborative. Yes, I have a title of being a captain, but I don’t see why that should make things any different,” Schwarz said. “The men’s and women’s teams are very close, which is something that I have always really liked. We are very supportive of each other.”
Schwarz’s dedication and busy schedule has not gone unnoticed by others, especially her head coach, Craig Bradley.
“Her biggest thing for me has always been her resilience,” Bradley said. “Jill is so busy doing everything Jill does. I don’t know where she gets all the hours. But she was always able to persevere and overcome to keep playing and working harder to get better. So, seeing that and understanding that you just don’t give has had an impact.”
With graduation only a few months away, Schwarz looked back on her time with the women’s golf team, commenting on the lasting life lesson the game has instilled in her as well as her hopes and advice for girls in the future.
“I think the most valuable life skill that golf teaches is patience,” Schwarz said. “That skill will definitely come in handy when I go to grad school and I have a job later.”
“I hope that the two remaining girls on the team will be able to build up the team and create an environment people want to stay in next season,” Schwarz said. “I think the girls will need to honestly rely on the junior and senior boys for helping with things like building up morale.”
As Schwarz’s final round ends, Bradley highlighted that it has been extremely rewarding to see her continue to build her legacy both on and off the course.
