Not only did I see people struggling around me, but as I was working through injury, recovery, as well as a positional change on the field, I faced my own mental health struggles.”

Kate Shields

Barrington’s Kate Shields recently finished her junior year at Bay View Academy in East Providence. The All-State girls lacrosse goalie has verbally committed to play lacrosse at the University of Oregon. She also serves as an ambassador for Morgan’s Message — a nonprofit that was created after Duke University lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers took her life. Morgan’s Message has a mission to create awareness regarding the need for open communication about mental health amongst student athletes.

Barrington Times: What inspired you to take a more active role in this issue?

Kate Shields: “I was inspired to take a more active role in the issue surrounding the mental health stigma in student-athletes after seeing the constant struggles surrounding the athletic community. Not only did I see people struggling around me, but as I was working through injury, recovery, as well as a positional change on the field, I faced my own mental health struggles. This inspired me to want to help others and spread the word that it's okay to be struggling and that we need to take care of the person before the student, before the athlete or we are at risk of losing all three.” 

BT: How long have you been playing lacrosse, and how difficult is it for you personally to balance the challenges that go with playing sports while going to school?

KS: “I began playing lacrosse in first grade on a team of third-graders while living in California. After living overseas in Singapore, I returned to Barrington for fifth grade and began playing for East Bay Lacrosse. I joined my club lacrosse team Revolution Lacrosse in sixth grade as a defender, however in the fall of my freshman year I transitioned to playing goalie full time. Alongside the change and challenges that came with being a goalie, I worked through the typical adjustments as a freshman at a new school. Academically, I have always been a high achieving student but when facing the recruiting process this fall as a junior I began to realize the major difficulties and stress that comes with becoming a D1 student-athlete. This was one of the most overwhelming times of my academic and athletic career where I had to learn that I was only going to succeed and achieve my goals if I took a step back for myself. I had to learn to trust my coaches, teachers, and family when they told me to believe in myself and my abilities while understanding that I could not control the recruiting process.”

BT: What are your goals for lacrosse and academics?

KS: “Having verbally committed to the University of Oregon's women's lacrosse team, my goal is to continue improving my game and growing my love for the sport of lacrosse. Academically, I am looking forward to finishing my junior year and starting my senior year at Bay View. After high school, I am intrigued in majoring in Human Physiology at Oregon and am excited for the opportunities to come.”