From accelerated studies to two varsity sports starting spots, senior Dream Hood is balancing the unthinkable. Hood plays varsity soccer in the fall and varsity lacrosse in the spring and has done this for three years consecutively.
Along with her athletics, she is also a high-achieving student. Hood is a year-round student-athlete. Taking challenging classes like DC Calculus, DC Finite, AP Economics and AP Literature, Hood’s schedule is loaded with advanced upper-level classes.
Even with that, Hood still finds time to practice and be a leader on both the soccer team and the lacrosse team with her words of encouragement.
“Dream is a good role model in soccer and lacrosse because not only does she lead by example in practice and in games, she always shows up with a good attitude and a bright smile on her face,” junior Victoria Wilson said.
Wilson, who played soccer with Hood in the fall and now plays lacrosse alongside her, believes that Hood is a “silent leader.”
“She doesn't go out of her way to be standoffish or make it known she is a leader,” Wilson said. “She just is. She leads by example, which is something not everyone can do.”
Hood has several strong qualities, including being a good teammate, and acknowledging how to be a leader.
“I think my strongest quality as a teammate would be how easygoing I am,” Hood said. “I care about my sport, but I care about my teammates more, so I always try to be considerate of them on and off the field even if they are acting silly.”
Through lacrosse, Hood has reinforced friendships. Hood and teammate Justice Galan, who were friends before beginning to play lacrosse together, have grown closer and built a stronger friendship since starting playing together.
“I have known Dream since the first grade, and I have been her teammate off and on our entire lives,” Galan said. “Lacrosse has definitely made us a bond that is irreplaceable. It has shown me that she is reliable, persistent, and always on my side.”
This year, Hood was one of the captains on the soccer team, and now she shares co-captainship for the lacrosse team with Galan.
“It has been an incredible experience,” Galan said. “When Dream leads, she leads with confidence and sincerity.”
Coaches also feel that Hood is a great leader. Head lacrosse coach Gary Roberts is one of those strong believers in Hood, expressing the fact that he knows she is reliable and influential.
“I've been relying on Dream for as long as she has been a part of our team, and continue to,” Roberts said. “It's fun. I enjoy being around her and appreciate the attitude and effort that she brings every single day.”