Emily Sterling Has A Passion For Saving

As the IWLCA National Goalie of the Year, Emily Sterling was still deciding what she wanted to do after graduating. 

She did know she "had a huge passion for helping people." 

By the time her senior season began, Sterling was much more certain about what she wanted her future to look like. She knew she was looking to continue an incredible athletic career at Maryland and prepare herself for her career in the medical field. 

But that decision took some time to arrive at.

Growing up in Hartford County, Maryland, Sterling was a jack of all trades athletically, managing and excelling at the busy schedule of playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. 

But, being in Maryland and watching the University of Maryland, one sport began to stand out from the rest. 

"I always did love watching the University of Maryland women's lacrosse team play. They were always such a powerhouse," Sterling said. 

To Sterling, playing for the school she grew up watching felt like something that "would be so cool." However, Sterling questioned if that would ever actually happen. 

Her question would be answered when the Maryland coaching staff reached out to offer a visit. Sterling immediately felt at home, hopping into the car at the visit's end, saying, "Mom, Dad, I want to go to Maryland."

Getting to school her freshman year, Sterling got right into a routine for lacrosse. It would only take one season before she would take the starting role, and she hasn't looked back. 

Academically, it was a different story. It wouldn't be until Sterling's final science course freshman year that she realized, "I need to change into something that's more science-based."

Becoming a public health major, Sterling now faced the task of balancing being a Division I athlete, completing an undergraduate pre-med degree, and preparing for the medical education she plans to pursue. 

"I've always been used to time management and figuring out what needs to be prioritized," Sterling said. "I've always been able to recognize what you have to get done right now and know what can wait a day or two for it to require your attention."

Pre-Health Terps, an organization that Sterling is currently Vice-President of, is there to help athletes navigate this workload. The board is run entirely by student-athletes and is there for the sole purpose of assisting student-athletes. 

"We linked to each other about how our experiences are definitely harder, especially being a Division I athlete and trying to manage a pre-medical or pre-health workload," Sterling said. 

"It also develops your people skills, your professional skills—just knowing how to market yourself and create relationships with people that can help you get things done when you're in a crunch or in a little bit of a pinch," she added.

Even with the lows of pushing through the long nights studying after practice or stressing over exams, Sterling wouldn't change anything about her medical path.

"I find myself loving the work that I'm doing," she said. "So knowing that these are my passions and this is what I wanted to follow through on has made this process so enjoyable."

After receiving guidance from Pre-Health Terps, Sterling looked for a leadership role. She feels she can bring a unique perspective to the group because she comes from a family that has no links to the medical field. 

Sterling hopes she can be "a forefront of a voice to listen to and bring other specific parts that maybe people with health-related family members didn't think of."

"I wanted to bring a new perspective to the board and kind of provide our other board members with some fresh ideas," Sterling said. 

Pre-Health Terps has helped Sterling forge her path and provided her with a community to which she can belong and provide guidance, the same way she was supported in her early years at Maryland.

"I think it's just a really inspiring, close-knit family that's definitely been very instrumental in my pathway throughout being a pre-health major and a Division I athlete competing on the level that we are," Sterling said. "It's definitely great."