“Notes From the Field” with Erin Matson on Chapelboro.com is proudly presented by Chapel Hill Tire.
Erin Matson is a Tar Heel, world-class athlete, team player and champion. Here, in “Notes From the Field,” she’ll be sharing some of her thoughts in an ongoing series set to cover anything and everything on her mind. You can find the full series so far here, on Chapelboro.
“Three cheers for Karen Shelton for bringing us into the Carolina family!”
“20 years, and we didn’t skip a beat.”
“Leaving Heaven with a full heart.”
Those are just a few sentences pulled from Instagram captions of UNCFH alums after being back in Chapel Hill this past weekend.
Multiple posts, numerous people, and so many different ways of expressing the same thing: the love we share for each other, our legend of a coach, our program, and our university.
You don’t come to Carolina without first understanding how crucial “Family” and our “Alumni Network” both are to the long-term successes of Tar Heels.
It’s a special group of people who play for Carolina, and it makes the group of those who are connected forever afterwards that much more unique.
The atmosphere of “bonded for life” is unparalleled, and that didn’t just happen by accident.
About forty of UNCFH’s former players came back this past weekend to cheer their Heels on, spend time with us and Coach, and breathe that magical Chapel Hill air once again.
The stands at our game were louder and felt more whole. The patio at the post-game tailgate had a certain buzz to it. Anyone trying to have a normal, Thursday-night dinner at 411 West on Franklin St. probably left complaining about that obnoxiously loud table in the back room. And Coach always makes it a point to give us time to bond, catch up, and have fun together after business is taken care of.
Whenever it’s our Alumni weekend, it’s a celebration – as it should be for our amazing group of beautiful, strong, powerful women. They deserve to be the center of attention, and they make us feel like celebrities too!
Over the past years, UNCFH has really taken the meaning of “alumni” to another level though. From creating an Alumni Facebook Group, to holding Career Symposiums, to just being comfortable enough DMing and commenting on each other’s lives on social media, we’re closer than ever, and there’s no slowing down.
The support and genuine care is empowering.
They truly want what is best for us, and we just want to make them proud.
We wouldn’t be able to play in the beautiful stadium we have if they didn’t pave the way. Our program wouldn’t have the respect it does if it wasn’t for them wanting to endure grueling workouts, put academics first, and embrace hard work years ago – with a great attitude and a smile. I wouldn’t have found a place that feels like home nor been able to chase my dreams if they didn’t help create a one-of-a-kind, championship culture. And my teammates and I wouldn’t be set for life with a support network of Tar Heels who will always look out for each other if they didn’t care to discover the power in that.
Did I say we love our alums???
There are a lot of Tar Heels spread across Athletics who came before us. But we appreciate what each one has provided us with: the ability to step on our fields, courts, mats, etc. and play the sports we love representing the university that has given us so much.
However, I’ve also used “they” and “them” a lot throughout this column when we are actually one. And at the end of the day, all we want is to ultimately make those who come after us feel the same belief, fearlessness, belonging, and motivation that we have known thanks to Carolina and its family.
No matter what year you graduated – or how “old” us current girls make you feel – thank you for playing a huge role in gifting us the opportunity to be a Tar Heel and continuing to inspire us with the amazing things you do each day.
We look up to you and are proud to be bonded for life.
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