Q & A With Freshman Cassie Braz

Jan. 4, 2012

Q: Now that you just finished your first semester as a freshman do you feel that you have settled into a routine?

A: Yes, I feel that after the first semester I have found a solid routine that fits my tennis schedule as well as handling my workload.

Q: What was it like the first few weeks at school?

A: The first two or three weeks were a little difficult getting used to a new atmosphere with new people as well as handling being away from home.

Q: If you could name the hardest thing to get used to at school what that will be?

A: The hardest thing for me to get used to was managing my time between classes, schoolwork, tennis and my social life. It was a huge transition from high school where I had a pretty set schedule everyday and did the same things at the same times. Here, no two days will be exactly alike, and it took a while for me to adapt to that type of lifestyle.

Q: Has any particular player on the team took you under her wings?

A: I love everyone on the team. There is not one person I am uncomfortable with or feel that I cannot talk to. The team has really good chemistry and they are always welcoming and will help me anytime I come to them.

Q: Have you found the balance of school and tennis to be manageable?

A: Yes, I have found a comfortable balance between school and tennis.

Q: Is the school meeting your expectations? If so can you give me some examples of what your expectations were?

A: Siena is definitely meeting my expectations. This was the first school I visited and toured during my college search and I have never felt more confident with a decision as I did when choosing this school. Some expectations I had were a strong Biology program which would prepare me for after college and a good tennis team with good chemistry that would keep me on my toes.

Q: What has been the biggest adjustment from high school to college tennis?

A: The biggest difference for me between junior tennis and college tennis is that I'm part of a team. I don't have to rely on only myself for support on the court. Whereas in junior tennis, I was alone and was not able to turn around and talk to my coach or have any of my teammates cheer me on.

Q: What have you learned about yourself since you became a student at Siena?

A: I think I surprised myself with how I transitioned to being on my own as well as managing my time. I had expected that process to be a lot longer and more difficult than it actually was.

Q: What is a typical day like for you at Siena?

A: There are no two days alike during the week for me, but usually I'll have three classes during the day and then I'll go to practice and have dinner with the team. After that, I'll go to the library and do homework

Q: It sounds like you have limited free time. What do you like to do when you are not in class, weight room or on the tennis court?

A: I usually like to hang out with friends and watch a lot of movies, but recently I've been addicted to playing the game Apples to Apples.

Q: Are you fond of the food in the cafeterias and the other eateries on campus?

A: My favorite place to eat is the wrap shop in the student union, I always get the chicken wraps on the grill.