Student-Athlete Check In: Eleni Prodes – Penn State Field Hockey
As the events of early March unfolded and changed all over the country, Penn State student-athletes found themselves facing uncertainty and transition in their academic and athletic realities.
The Penn State field hockey team, 2019 Big Ten Tournament finalists, were two months into the Spring semester when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted. As the entire Penn State family works for ways to stay connected, we can check in with some members of head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' field hockey team to get some insight into how typical student-athletes reacted, adjusted and began the process of forging ahead in our current circumstance.
Today we check in with sophomore Eleni Prodes, a midfielder from Bethlehem, Pa. and a Liberty High School grad. Prodes, who was recently named an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction as she sports a 4.0 GPA in nutritional science major, nutrition physiology and biochemistry option. Prodes played in 14 games for the Nittany Lions this past season, seeing time in the midfield for Penn State. She started four games this past fall.
Prodes took the time to answer some questions from GoPSUsports and offers some good insight into the daily life of a Nittany Lion during this time:
GoPSU: What was your first reaction when you heard that spring break had turned in to online learning?
Eleni: "The whole thing felt so surreal and after a whole week of online school it's starting to settle in. I'm was bummed that I can't spend this semester in person with some amazing professors and great classmates. I also really miss seeing my roommate all the time and being with my teammates daily. Spring season is hard, but we go through it together and create an amazing bond, so it's hard that we are missing that quality time together. However, I also see this as an opportunity to grow as a person and a student with this whole new lifestyle and routine."
GoPSU: How have you been adapting to online learning?
Eleni: "It's going well, it doesn't feel much different than normal school other than the fact that I'm not sitting in a crowded lecture hall. All of my classes are very large (around 300) this semester so I'm not missing out on in-class teacher student interaction. However, it is tough to not be able to talk with my classmates and attend office hours."
GoPSU: Athletes are by nature focused on staying healthy, what have you been doing to keep fit, active and energized?
Eleni: "I try to stick to a routine by setting a time to work out daily. I spend my mornings focusing on school and then work out once I complete my schoolwork and studies. I look forward to this time because it's a great way to unwind and give my mind a break. I also love to move after sitting most of the day. I've also been enjoying neighborhood walks with my parents and new workouts I find on the internet."
GoPSU: What has your family been doing together during this extended period of social distancing? Any family activities, etc.?
Eleni: "A lot of cleaning and home improvement work, cooking together, watching movies, and praying or watching church services on livestream since we can't attend church during this time."
GoPSU: What is the one thing you miss most right now about not being back at Penn State?
Eleni: "I miss being with my best friends every day, especially my roommate Bri. I really take the opportunity to work out, practice, and hang out with friends constantly for granted. Also, I really miss class. I love my classes this semester and I have some awesome professors, so it's weird having to watch them teach on a screen and not be able to talk to interact with them."
GoPSU: How have you been keeping in contact with your teammates?
Eleni: "We have a lot of group messages together, so we text and snapchat each other a lot. We also facetime which has been nice."
