Name: Hanna Kopits
Sport: Women's Fencing
Hometown: New Rochelle, N.Y.
High School: Rye Country Day School
Activities/Clubs/Committees: Customs People (CP)
Why did you choose Haverford?
I narrowed down my list of schools very quickly (fencing being a super small sport) and did all of my visits within a few weeks. None of the schools really clicked with me. But I left Haverford after my first visit and burst into tears in the car. When my dad asked why I just responded that this was the place I felt I HAD to go to. I instantly fell in love with the community and the culture of the school and how much people seemed to really care about others in a completely selfless way.
What is your favorite team experience?
There's not really a single experience that stands out because I am incredibly thankful and happy every moment I spend with my team. They are all incredible people who bring out the best in me and in others and there's never a moment I don't enjoy.
Why did you choose to play a sport in college?
Fencing is a really individual sport so when I was competing in middle and high school I always traveled alone or with a few other people. I always craved a team environment where I could grow and learn with other people, which is absolutely what I found here.
What does being a student-athlete mean to you?
Being a student-athlete is all about balance. Figuring how many classes and extracurriculars I can take on while still making it to practice on time and being able to travel on the weekends to tournaments is difficult and something that I think a lot of people struggle with. It's something I've gotten used to over the years, but it makes it a lot better to able to rely on my teammates to help me.
What advice would you give a high school student considering Haverford?
Be ready to work hard. That doesn't apply only to Haverford, but here it's so much more than just in classes— it's at practice, and being engaged with the community and making valuable life-long friendships.