Emma Kircher is a familiar face that most of us know and love on campus. Whether you see her involved in the latest activity on Olsen Field or in the classroom, Kircher is always on the move. The fifth-year field hockey player is never shy of a big smile and contagious personality. Let’s get to know Kircher a little deeper in this student-athlete spotlight.
Originally, Kircher was quite unsure of her college decision until there was one deciding factor. ”When I went through the recruiting process Eastern was not my first choice initially. But over time there was just something about it. The former head coach Camrin Azzarano is the reason I am here today. She stayed persistent in checking in on me during my senior year of high school, attending my games, inviting me to overnights and clinics. She stuck out as the coach that I knew I would be proud to play for. Through her efforts of not only connecting with me but my family as well she was the reason I chose Eastern,” Kircher said.
Kircher grew up playing sports. She was always an athlete and active. She was inspired by her mom to play field hockey. She was the woman who signed her up for a local YMCA field hockey camp and Kircher had loved it ever since.
“When I started playing, field hockey was not anywhere as popular as it is now. Growing up there were comments about why we wear a skirt and can’t use the other side of our stick but I always brushed them aside. My mom went to the same [high school] I went to and it was a great feeling to be able to play not only on the same field my mom had played on but also her head coach was my assistant coach. It was a full circle moment,” Kircher said.
Now, Kircher is thriving more than ever at Eastern.
“Making the decision to come back as a 5th year without my graduating class and while still in nursing school is something that I’m really proud of pushing myself to do and overcome the obstacles and hardships I have faced. Not letting any outside factors deter me from the love of the sport and being able to have another year to put an Eastern uniform on,” Kircher said.
Her academic career is certainly a unique case. Not only is Kircher a committed athlete, but she is also a nursing student, which is no easy task on its own. As a nursing student, she must commit to classes, 8-hour clinical rotations, and hours upon hours of studying. On top of that, as an athlete, she also commits to team practices, lifts, meetings, games, travel, and bonding. This may seem like a huge, overwhelming workload to some, but Kircher uses it to her advantage.
“Having so much to do truly does help to keep me on a strict schedule. This means any free time I have usually goes to my studies. While this schedule may sound like a headache, I enjoy it. Always being busy and knowing when to use my free time which goes to field hockey and when to use the time outside of that for school really forces me to stay on top of my studies and leaves no time for procrastination,” Kircher said.
Kircher does not limit herself to other clubs and extracurricular activities either.
“I have been the president of the SAAC club here at Eastern for the last two years as well as the secretary of the SNAP club for nursing students. The first two years of college I was also a part of the track and field team which I was recruited for as well,” Kircher said.
Kircher certainly does not limit herself on or off the field. Not every day is the same, but let’s take a look at what a typical Friday in-season looks like for her.
“I have an eight-hour clinical at CHOP in Philadelphia starting at 6:30 a.m. on the floor ready to go for a report. I wake up in the early hours and head to Philly where I then get onto a shuttle that takes me to the hospital. After my clinical day is over, I go back onto the shuttle, head to my car and then drive to campus. On Fridays we typically have practice, but there are a few dates where we have had a game on a Friday. Either way, once I head to campus I’m getting changed for either a practice or a game. Practices are a little over two hours long, which is the same for a game as well. After field hockey is over, I’ll head home, take a shower, make some dinner and spend the rest of my night studying or doing homework!” Kircher said.
Her schedule is certainly not for the weak. Kircher commits to dozens of tasks every day that one could not imagine doing in a week. She is a hard-working, generous and courageous person who many look up to. As she is finishing up her fifth year at Eastern, Kircher has learned many lessons and has lots of advice to share.
“Each game, each practice, anything I do I remind myself to leave it better than it was before,” Kircher said. She also is motivated by the ability to play AO1, also known as an audience of one. “I have been given the opportunity and talents that I have from God,” she said. Having God by her side allows Kircher to feel the confidence and power she needs to do the things she does every single day even when it does get hard.
In the future, Kircher’s goal is to become a pediatric nurse and one day take up coaching. She wants to share the love of field hockey and inspire others just like her mom did for her. Kircher is extremely grateful for all the opportunities she has been given in her life, especially being a student-athlete.
“Being a student-athlete has shown me how to be a better person, how to glorify God in my sport, the ability to have time management skills and the appreciation of the small wins and the big ones too,” Kircher said.
Grace Nealy 
Natasha Chaillou