“I am not the kind of guy who quits; I like to work hard. I will still stay in shape and work out, and keep rowing.”
Nick started with Row New York as a freshman on our novice team four years ago. He wasn’t the fastest or the strongest athlete, nor was he necessarily the best student. In his own words, he was overweight, small and unsure of himself.
Today, Nick is close to 6 feet tall and a lean healthy weight. He loves the strenuous workouts, the competition and the team camaraderie that rowing provides. While the physical transformation is striking, his coaches perceive an emotional maturation that is even more noteworthy. His mental discipline and overall demeanor are what stand out the most; he has more confidence in himself and seems to be more comfortable in his own skin. This increase in confidence has had a positive impact on the team as well, as Nick has taken on a leadership role.
Rowing is not an easy sport. There were times when the last thing Nick wanted to do was get up before 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning to make practice. Or to get out on the water on a cold windy day, as blisters developed on his hands. But as he can attest, it is those very hardships and testing of one’s mettle that makes an individual grow in character.
As Nick prepares to graduate, there is much that he will miss about Row New York: his teammates, his coaches, the competition, and yes, even the early morning workouts.
