ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Caitlin Harding is a solutions-oriented person.

She enjoyed studying both Biology and Chemistry in high school, so she chose Biochemistry as her college major. When Harding started researching information on how to prepare herself to become a Physician's Assistant, she learned that many schools encouraged perspective students to participate in a Medical Club.

Roberts Wesleyan College didn't have a Medical Club at the time, so the Vestal, N.Y., native and a friend started one. 

Harding, a midfielder with a 3.89 GPA, is the Roberts Wesleyan College Female Scholar Athlete of the Month for March.

Harding, who has four goals and two assists through nine games this season, focuses on her sport and her studies while school is in session, but also enjoys knitting, crocheting and hiking, biking and camping with her family.

She took a few minutes to share her thoughts on life as a student-athlete at Roberts. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What is the Medical Club and how did that all come about?

"Looking into PA schools, a lot of the websites that I was looking at said that you should probably be a part of a Medical Club or a Pre-PA Club and we didn't have one on campus. I was talking to my other friend, who wants to be a PA also, and I was like 'we should just start a group here on campus.' … She and I started it earlier this year. We have two meetings a month. I am the vice president and she is the president and it's a really good time. It's nice to have that group and have that community." 

What has been your favorite course at Roberts?

"I think it's a tie. I really liked general Biology because we got to do a lot of dissections, and that was fun, but then I took Anatomy and Physiology last year and that has a lot to do with what I am going to be doing in the future and was really interesting. My mom was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, so going into this course I got to learn a lot about what she was going through, when before I had no idea or basic understanding about what was going on in her body. Now, I can relate to a lot of people when they say that they have an illness and understand what is going on."

What is the best thing about being about a lacrosse player at Roberts?

"I think this team is unmatched with how close the girls are, we really are a tight-knit group. We, of course, go through our little spouts of drama but we can talk about it like a family can talk about its problems and just get over it. … I am stressed out every time I come to practice. I go straight from class to practice, so it's a lot. A few other girls are like that also, and we can just go there and be with each other, let loose for a little bit, have fun and play the game that we love. It's a great environment to be around." 

When did you start playing lacrosse?

"I think it was around third grade, maybe second grade. My brother (Troy) taught me. My brother had this idea that it I was a girls goalie and I could stop his shot, then I would be unstoppable and I would be really good. I was goalie for a while until middle school and I just hated it, so I went and started playing middie. It's very different."

What do you love about the game of lacrosse?

"It's a release and time to focus on something that is outside of myself. I am definitely a team player and being on a team is really important to me. I can focus on what is going to make us better as a team. I have never been good at individual sports and I have been around lacrosse my whole life. I think everyone should be on a sports team once in their life, it's such an experience and you can learn so much."

How did you become a Redhawk?

"I don't remember if I reached out to (head coach) Kristin (Paolini) first or if she reached out to me, but I was on a travel lacrosse team just trying to get recruited. I was kind of late to the game. I was just going to go to school for academics and then I realized that I did not want to stop playing lacrosse. I was looking at a few schools and then I came to Roberts and immediately knew that it was the place that I wanted to be. I got really close with the girls on the team, I loved the environment and I loved Kristin as a coach. She was so nice and she kind of set the pace every day and when I went to practice with them, you just knew that everyone was out there to play and to play for each other and I knew that this was the spot that I wanted to be in." 

What has been the best part of your experience at Roberts?

"I think the people. The environment of Roberts is really nice. I have gotten really close with people on my team and people in my major and I think that those are friendships that your aren't ever going to lose. … I just love the people. Everyone is so kind at Roberts, it's so cool. It's a special kind of environment and community."