Attending a university like Georgetown is far from easy. The academics here are top-notch and you must work very hard to excel here. Georgetown is unique in that it is located in the nation’s capital, and many experiences in D.C., both academic and extracurricular, are truly unique in Washington, D.C.

Norah Swanson, a senior on the women’s soccer team, has grasped her opportunities at Georgetown and run with them, excelling both on and off the field. With the Big East tournament coming up in a week, she sees her senior season coming to a close – but she also has much to look forward to after interning this past summer on Capitol Hill.

Swanson has been a member of the Georgetown women’s soccer team for four years. In her final season, she feels that the team is playing up to its potential.

“We have already reached a number of the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season, and we feel that if we play the way we can in this championship series, we can still put ourselves in a good position to make the NCAA tournament,” Swanson said.

The team is currently 12-5-2 and will play St. John’s this weekend in the quarterfinal of the Big East tournament.

“I have no doubt that we will refocus, and I am heading into the Big East championships this weekend with great confidence in what we can accomplish as a team,” Swanson said. “Preparing for this game is our focus and number one priority.”

Swanson realizes that the real world begins for her after the season – she graduates in May and will begin the next part of her life. Swanson has prepared herself for this next step after taking advantage of Washington, D.C. this past summer, which she spent interning for Ellen Tauscher, then-Democratic

congresswoman from California

During her days on the Hill, she attended subcommittee meetings, researched for the congresswoman’s legislative assistants, handled constituent mail and edited the congresswoman’s speeches.

“Being immersed in the inner workings of government taught me so many things that you just can’t learn in the classroom,” Swanson said. “I also got the chance to have a more hands-on experience learning more about international security, something I am very interested in.”

While working on the Hill, Tauscher was confirmed as President Obama’s under secretary of state for arms control and international security. Swanson was able to be a part of the congresswoman’s transition from the House of Representatives to the State Department – something you can only experience in D.C.

After graduation Swanson doesn’t have any set plans, but she hopes to stay in the district, instead of going back home to California, and hopefully find a job or an internship.

In a few weeks, Swanson will have to say goodbye to the sport she has played her whole life. She has many memories of Georgetown soccer but a few that stick out for her are recent ones, especially when the Hoyas beat West Virginia in their last home game at North Kehoe Field.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better game from my teammates; it was one of our best performances all season,” Swanson said. “We truly played up to our potential that day, and of course, it’s always great to beat West Virginia.”

Her second memory happened her sophomore year here at Georgetown. During the 2007 season, it was the first time in the history of the women’s soccer program that the team made it to the NCAA tournament. The team had earned an at-large bid, so before the selection show, they weren’t sure if they had made it or not. The entire team gathered and watched on television to find out the news.

“I’ll never forget anxiously waiting and watching ESPN with my teammates in McDonough,” Swanson said. “When we found out we were in, we were so excited. We were jumping up and down like little girls. I will never forget that moment, and I am hoping that we can repeat that moment again this November.”

eredith Cox is a senior on the women’s basketball team and a consistent contributor to Hoya Insider. Inside Look appears every other Friday issue of Hoya Sports.

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