Name: Ravi Eaton
Sport: Indoor and Outdoor Men's Track and Field
Hometown: New York, New York
High School: The Dalton School
Activities/Clubs/Committees: Athletes of Color Coalition, TA for Organic Chemistry and Biology Lab
Favorite professional athlete: Jaylen Brown
Fun Fact: Has a twin brother who goes to Wesleyan University.
What do you love most about the sport you play?
I love track and field because it's both an individual and a team sport at the same time. You have the individual aspect where you're always competing against yourself and you can always measure success based on what you've done before. And you know that no matter what, if you put in the work, you can get better and see improvement. But at the same time, you have that team dynamic where you're all working together to complete one goal and you have all these people supporting you, and it's just a wonderful experience.
Why did you choose to play a sport in college?
I chose to play a sport in college because it brings balance to my life, and it's especially important for my mental health too. No matter how hard my day was, I know that at 4:00 PM, I have the opportunity to just work hard and get better, and I can end that practice feeling good about myself and what I accomplished. It also brings balance because I know I have that schedule every day. I have a strict regimen and it keeps me on top of my work. It keeps me focused in general and engaged in my schoolwork.
What makes Haverford unique?
I think Haverford is unique in that it's a very small academic institution, but it still has a profound array of resources, along with some of the best professors I've ever encountered in my entire academic career. Hearing from other people at bigger institutions, I think Haverford is very special in that you can do something as hard as pre-med where you're taking very challenging classes, but still know that in a big lecture, you'll know your professor and your professor knows you. I think that's something that shouldn't be taken for granted. Not only does it help with performance in class, but it helps you feel less alone and deal with imposter syndrome, which is very common in college. That's something you wouldn't be able to get at a larger institution.
What advice would you give a high school student considering Haverford?
For students considering Haverford, I would definitely recommend visiting, trying to do an overnight if you can, and trying to talk to people here. Honestly, you can look up different rosters and find the email for someone on the team that you are interested in. They'll be happy to answer any of your questions. I would just say in general, you should really take the time to think: is this right for me? Is this the place where I want to succeed? Is this a place where I feel I'll be welcomed? Haverford is definitely unique because of the honor code and the community, and it's really important that you take the time to pick a college that is gonna be the right fit for you. I think for anyone looking for a very personalized education, the ability to reshape your institution, and the ability to really connect in a way that's a lot harder at other institutions, Haverford is definitely the place to be.