Interview

Well - I'm eligible for draft.   
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
<ahem>
I still don't have time to really write or reflect here today so this is a copy of <most> of the questions the teams sent around for a survey and my responses.
2. Why did you choose to play roller derby?
I was sort of thinking about playing a team sport and had abstractly chosen basketball because I’ve always thought of basketball as the pinnacle of 'supremely difficult sports I cannot play’ and I wanted to overcome that.  It was at about that same time that a friend of mine started dragging me to derby bouts.  At the first bout I went to, someone turned to me and said, “you’re going to do that, right?”  and I said, “hell no!”  Derby looked to me like someone had specifically chosen all of things for which I have absolutely no natural propensity and combined them into one sport.  But my friend kept dragging me to bouts and the more I watched the more exciting it was and finally I thought, “fuck it.  Let’s do this thing.  It’s gotta be a lot harder than basketball.” 
3. Have you played a team sport before? Which sport? If not-what individual sports have you played?
No. I swam distance freestyle in high school. I also ran cross country a little in high school but I've done quite a bit more distance running as an adult. Mostly I run for fun but I did race in one marathon.
4. What positions do you see yourself playing?
I see myself as a utility player. I want to be able to block and jam - or just generally fill in as needed.
5. What motivates you?
I’m a very goal oriented person.  I create specific ideas of where I would like to go and spend a lot of time imagining myself getting there.  I’m more motivated to improve relative to my own abilities than trying to measure my progress against someone else’s. 
6. What kind of team activities would you be interested in for off skates get togethers?
I’m not really sure.  I like to hang out in groups in general.  I think potlucks are fun.  I like to party.  Team building activities like doing a mud run or high ropes course are great too.
7. Practices will consist of 1 team and 1 league practice each week with the potential to add a 3rd.  Will you be able to commit to making these practices?
Yes, absolutely.
8. What is more important to you, winning or playing time?
Winning. I want to earn my playing time.
9. What special talents will you bring to the league?
I’m a very accomplished French horn player.  In terms of things that might actually be useful...  I’m organized, I follow through and I’m great at problem solving.  Those skills make me useful for a multitude of other things.  I’m also a good consensus builder, as well as facilitating people with divisive viewpoints to have discussions in a way that helps everyone move forward.
I write reasonably well.
11. What three words would your fellow cadets use to describe you?
Supportive, Determined, Reliable. 
12. Why did you choose Jet City?
I came to an open house in August at the behest of my derby loving friend.  I had no knowledge of Jet City or interest in skating for Jet City prior to that and the only reason I went was because she insisted.  At the time I wanted to go for Rat because of Key Arena and because I wanted a competitive experience. 
Two things changed my mind.  The first is that the minute we walked in the door, Torture welcomed us, asked if we had any questions or wanted to talk, let us know what was going to happen that night and told us where to sit.  Phearless spent a lot of time talking to us about the positive changes derby made in her life.  Several people checked in with us during the scrimmage to make sure we knew what was going on, why we were seeing certain strategies and whether we had any questions.  I saw that every skater, no matter her size, was given the opportunity to jam and was blown away by Photon Pixie.
Of the weeks that I had spent in rinks and at PFM it was only the second time anyone had really been welcoming.  The first had been a chance meeting with a skater and her boyfriend in a parking lot near my house.  I was there to work on my T stops after PFM turned me away for my inability to do them.  They appeared to be there for edge work , toe stop runs and hitting practice, but did not hesitate to teach me how to T stop and invite me to take my very first swing at a hitting pad.  You can imagine my surprise to see them again at the Jet City open house (Hilga Der Morder and Henry Brawlins).  Hilga remembered me, and said she was glad I was there.
I was sold and continue to be sold.  It’s easy at this point to see that Jet City does and will provide a competitive experience without resorting to the schoolyard exclusionary tactics that I’ve spent a lifetime trying to forget and avoid.  An inclusive environment is fundamentally important to me and Jet City seems like a good fit for that reason.
13. What do you like least about derby?
Honestly...  Toenail pain.  When they’re around they hurt, when they fall off it’s disgusting.
14. What do you like best about derby?
I like that that it's really almost a lifestyle as much as it is a sport. When I started to get into this people kept telling me it would take over my life and I thought, "yeah, I hope so."
15. What type of cross training are you interested in?
I like to run and swim and ride my bike.  I’ve been thinking about doing Cross Fit.  I love being active so there isn’t much I won’t try (although I have deep fear-of-heights related reservations about rock climbing).
16. What is something fun you like to do NON-derby?
I like to make music and write.  I like to hang out with my friends, or go dancing.  I love the hiking in this area and I also like to explore Seattle.  I’ve only lived here a couple of years and I still feel like Seattle is a person I’m getting to know.
18. What are your greatest strengths on and off the track?
Discipline.  To me, discipline doesn’t just mean the basics like consistent attendance and showing up on time.  It means giving your full energies and attention to the task at hand so that every drill and every exercise feels like the hardest you’ve ever worked.  I think of it as a habit and I consider it to be a habit I’ve already formed.
Positivity.  You can always fake positivity, and I suppose in the absence of any genuine feelings in that direction faking it is better than nothing.  However, I think I do a very good job of finding aspects of the task at hand that are enjoyable, even when the activity as a whole is difficult or distasteful. 
Encouragement.  I like to support others.  I was raised by teachers and I have a teaching personality.  I take a lot of pleasure in finding the thing in other people that motivates them.
19. What are your goals with derby? ie just a good workout, making friends, kicking international ass, making the bombers?
I want to take this thing as far as I can.  I have a two years to Bombers plan.  (actually, it’s a Bombers ASAP plan, but two years sounded like a good arbitrary number).  I think this sport deserves more recognition than it currently receives and I would like to be a part in helping it to grow both in Everett and beyond.
20. How do you handle criticism/feedback?
I think it’s important to listen intently to feedback, whether or not I agree with it.  Sometimes the first couple of things someone tells you aren’t good advice, but the third thing is.  If you dismiss it all, people quit trying to help you.  That doesn’t mean I’m some sort of saint and my feelings don’t ever get hurt, but I try to absorb what I can.
21. What kind of coaching do you respond best to?
I like to be pushed and I like to be given some direction.  If I’m told what I need to work on, I will work on that thing until I get it.  If not, I will choose something of my own accord and work on that thing until I get it.  However, receiving direction from someone who has more experience and a better idea of where I need to go is invaluable.
22. How did you get into derby? How long have you been playing?
I got into derby because one of my best friends dragged me into it.  It will be a year since I bought my skates on May 31st. Prior to that I had been roller skating about 10 times in my life.  I started BSL in August and went to regular PFM practices for most of the fall.  My first scrimmage was with the Cadets in January of this year. 
23. What skills in derby do you think you need to improve on?
I would really like to improve my hitting and driving.  I know I could be much better at moving people.  I think that when I jam I overcommit to one path regardless of whether it’s working for me. 
24. How do you deal with conflict?
I don’t have much in the way of a temper.  I’m not saying I don’t ever get mad but it takes a whole hell of a lot to really get me going.  I tend to look at conflict logically.  Is the root cause of the issue what it appears to be?  Have all parties had the opportunity to adequately communicate their problems?  Is this problem worth making a huge stand or should I wait to spend my social capital on something more important? 
25. What is your favorite food?
Bacon Mac and Cheese and beer.
26. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I would be able to fly. It would cure my fear of heights and save on gas money.  Also, it’s an  incredibly useful skill to have in case of zombie apocalypse.  (Two biggest fears:  heights and zombies)
<posted on 5.4.12>