How NOLA Built Me – By Rose Brutkiewicz
Feb 20, 2019 | Track & Field
I never wanted to be a pole vaulter.
In fact, I never wanted to take part in track and field. I was a gymnast, and gymnastics was my passion.
But at my high school in Mobile, Alabama, they made us choose two clubs or two sports to take part in. Since I still wanted to spend time with gymnastics, I picked track and field. Indoor and outdoor season each counted as a sport, so I was all set with my high school requirement.
Little did I know, that decision would become one of the biggest of my life.
When my new track coach found out I was a gymnast and comfortable with flipping myself upside down, he suggested I try pole vaulting.
Good call, coach.
I turned out to be a naturally good pole vaulter – better than I ever was as a gymnast – and I quit gymnastics to focus on pole vaulting. That choice would wind up bringing me here to Tulane and New Orleans where I have spent four amazing years on the Green Wave track and field team. Getting into pole vaulting was a forced mistake, but it was the best mistake I've ever made.
Even after starting pole vaulting, I never imagined it would be something that could get me a college scholarship. But I started receiving letters after my sophomore year, and that really made me feel special because I had never felt special in a sport before. It was really cool to get these letters from Tulane and a lot of other schools. Even after that I wasn't sure I wanted to pole vault in college, but after taking a couple visits, I was convinced that pole vaulting in college would be great.
I narrowed my college choices down to three, but in the end picking Tulane was an easy choice. When I was looking at schools, there were three things I wanted: academics, athletics and a social life. Tulane had all three of those. Just all around, New Orleans and Tulane made a lot more sense for what I wanted. It was also closer to my family. I am only about two and a half hours away from my hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
Spending four years in New Orleans has really helped me grow a lot. As a freshman you come in not really knowing anything. Everything completely changes. I completely switched majors. I was on a pre-med track originally, and now after I graduate I'll be going into sales. I have a job lined up in New York City with a company called MuleSoft.
Socially I've grown a lot too. Tulane has really pulled me out of my shell. When I came to college I was a lot quieter and not as outgoing, but now I am a lot more sure and confident in myself. I have really learned how to dedicate to a cause.
Seven students in my high school class got college scholarships to play a sport, and I'm one of just two people who stuck with the sport for all four years. I am really proud that I have stuck with it and grown with my sport.
I've loved experiencing college in New Orleans. The food in the city is amazing even though it's hard to find something healthy to eat when you're surrounded by all of the typical New Orleans fare. Exploring the city is great, and there are so many festivals year-round that keep you busy.
Of course, Mardi Gras is fun, too. Most people don't know that Mobile actually invented Mardi Gras, and we throw a lot more Moon Pies during the parades than I've seen in New Orleans.
After I graduate this year, I'll definitely miss New Orleans and Tulane a ton. The main things I will miss are the friends and the atmosphere of being on Tulane's campus. It is so nice to have everything so close to you. My friends are here, I can eat here and I can work out here. It feels like home being able to have everything I need on campus. I like seeing people I know on my way to class and practice. I like having that friendship and safety on campus.
So thanks, Tulane, for an incredible four years. Here's to hoping my final semester with the Green Wave is the best one yet.
My name is Rose Brutkiewicz, and I am NOLA Built.
In fact, I never wanted to take part in track and field. I was a gymnast, and gymnastics was my passion.
But at my high school in Mobile, Alabama, they made us choose two clubs or two sports to take part in. Since I still wanted to spend time with gymnastics, I picked track and field. Indoor and outdoor season each counted as a sport, so I was all set with my high school requirement.
Little did I know, that decision would become one of the biggest of my life.
When my new track coach found out I was a gymnast and comfortable with flipping myself upside down, he suggested I try pole vaulting.
Good call, coach.
I turned out to be a naturally good pole vaulter – better than I ever was as a gymnast – and I quit gymnastics to focus on pole vaulting. That choice would wind up bringing me here to Tulane and New Orleans where I have spent four amazing years on the Green Wave track and field team. Getting into pole vaulting was a forced mistake, but it was the best mistake I've ever made.
Even after starting pole vaulting, I never imagined it would be something that could get me a college scholarship. But I started receiving letters after my sophomore year, and that really made me feel special because I had never felt special in a sport before. It was really cool to get these letters from Tulane and a lot of other schools. Even after that I wasn't sure I wanted to pole vault in college, but after taking a couple visits, I was convinced that pole vaulting in college would be great.
I narrowed my college choices down to three, but in the end picking Tulane was an easy choice. When I was looking at schools, there were three things I wanted: academics, athletics and a social life. Tulane had all three of those. Just all around, New Orleans and Tulane made a lot more sense for what I wanted. It was also closer to my family. I am only about two and a half hours away from my hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
Spending four years in New Orleans has really helped me grow a lot. As a freshman you come in not really knowing anything. Everything completely changes. I completely switched majors. I was on a pre-med track originally, and now after I graduate I'll be going into sales. I have a job lined up in New York City with a company called MuleSoft.
Socially I've grown a lot too. Tulane has really pulled me out of my shell. When I came to college I was a lot quieter and not as outgoing, but now I am a lot more sure and confident in myself. I have really learned how to dedicate to a cause.
Seven students in my high school class got college scholarships to play a sport, and I'm one of just two people who stuck with the sport for all four years. I am really proud that I have stuck with it and grown with my sport.
I've loved experiencing college in New Orleans. The food in the city is amazing even though it's hard to find something healthy to eat when you're surrounded by all of the typical New Orleans fare. Exploring the city is great, and there are so many festivals year-round that keep you busy.
Of course, Mardi Gras is fun, too. Most people don't know that Mobile actually invented Mardi Gras, and we throw a lot more Moon Pies during the parades than I've seen in New Orleans.
After I graduate this year, I'll definitely miss New Orleans and Tulane a ton. The main things I will miss are the friends and the atmosphere of being on Tulane's campus. It is so nice to have everything so close to you. My friends are here, I can eat here and I can work out here. It feels like home being able to have everything I need on campus. I like seeing people I know on my way to class and practice. I like having that friendship and safety on campus.
So thanks, Tulane, for an incredible four years. Here's to hoping my final semester with the Green Wave is the best one yet.
My name is Rose Brutkiewicz, and I am NOLA Built.
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