Name: Sykes Cargile
Sport: Men's Soccer
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
High School: University School of Nashville
Activities/Clubs: Humtones (a cappella), Throng (improv comedy), James House Board (student art house)
Why did you choose Haverford?
I chose Haverford because of the people and the campus. Everyone I met on my official visit was really warm and genuine. They also all had a really interesting background and it was a place I felt I could be myself and grow at the same time.
What is your favorite team experience?
My favorite team experience is preseason every year. It is when I first get to see a lot of my friends again after summer break as well as work hard with the team. We also get introduced more formally to the incoming first-years. We get better during this time as players and friends and it really sets up how the rest of the season will go.
Why did you choose to play a sport in college?
I chose to play a sport in college for two reasons. First, I am a very competitive person naturally, so sports is a good way to compete every day with myself and others. Second, the team provides a great support network of friends and classmates. Having a team actually feels like it lightens the academic load. You always have people to talk to who have been through the same thing and can help you find your way.
What does being a student-athlete mean to you?
I think a student-athlete at Haverford is someone who generally strives to do their best in all aspects of their life. We have a rigorous schedule and the academic load is not any easier. This means you really have to be internally motivated to get everything done on time and done well.
What makes Haverford unique?
I think Haverford is unique in many ways, first would be self-governance. People at Haverford have the freedom to do what they like on weekends and during the week with relatively little supervision. This is a great way for our students to get more of a taste for the real world. No one is looking over your shoulder to check if you are doing what you are supposed to. The onus of choice is on the individual. Second, the people here are a huge selling point. Really, no two people are alike, so you get to have many conversations that open you to a world of thought previously entirely foreign to you. Most people are involved in a club or job on campus which makes it easy to get out and meet people by joining either of these types of organizations. Last, there is the College itself. The academics and professors here are some of the best in the world. The knowledge to be gained is almost infinite. The liberal arts set up allows us to really make the most of this environment. We can study in multiple fields and see many different sides of the College.
What advice would you give a high school student considering Haverford?
My advice to a prospective student is to be open minded and ready to grind. There is much to learn and do here but most of it will not be easy.
What are your thoughts on the Honor Code?
I personally like the Honor Code. At first, I was scared that I might accidentally break it. However, the Honor Code on campus is actually felt more as a community of trust. I think the trust people put in each other, both faculty to student and student to student, makes working actually easier than if we did not have the Honor Code.