When Teddy Tolbert '28 chose Wesleyan, she wasn't looking for just a place to play field hockey. She wanted a community where academics and athletics would challenge her equally, professors would know her by name, and curiosity would extend far beyond the classroom. Since arriving on campus, Tolbert has immersed into the kind of community she was looking for. "You develop meaningful friendships, even with unexpected people," Tolbert says. "Taking advantage of the wide range of classes has allowed me to immerse myself in important and fun conversations."

One course in particular, Masculinities, embodied everything she hoped college would be. The discussions were both thought-provoking and engaging, and by the end of the semester, the class celebrated together over dinner with Professor Jill Morawski. Experiences like that reinforced what initially drew her to Wesleyan: a close-knit community built around relationships and intellectual curiosity.

As a psychology major with minors in religion and education, Tolbert has discovered that her academic interests complement her athletic pursuits in unexpected ways. Rather than seeing school and sport as separate parts of her life, she views them as driven by the same motivation. "I think what I find most similar between the two is effort driven by passion," she says.

That perspective transformed the way she approaches learning. In high school, academics often felt like an obligation. At Wesleyan, studying subjects that genuinely interest her has made learning something she actively looks forward to. "Enjoying homework was a novel concept to me," she says. "Choosing to study subjects I'm passionate about has completely altered my mindset."

The same passion fuels her commitment on the field. Whether preparing for class or competing in one of Division III's toughest athletic conferences, Tolbert believes the key to sustained success is remembering why you love what you do.

Outside of academics and athletics, another lifelong passion continues to shape her college experience: music. Having performed in bands since she was eight years old, Tolbert knew she wanted music to remain part of her life at Wesleyan. After settling into college, she found fellow musicians who shared that vision, eventually forming the student band Dr. Giles and the Evil Ghost.

While the group has performed successful shows on campus, Tolbert says the weekly rehearsals have become the most meaningful part of the experience."Playing with Giles, Leo, and Henry is  one of the highlights of my week," she says. "We approach this band as an outlet to have fun and play with different ideas."

Music has also provided an important creative balance alongside the demands of collegiate athletics. Determined to make it a larger part of her sophomore year, Tolbert performed in the student theater productions, enrolled in music courses, took piano lessons, and taught guitar to a local child. "Music being a bigger part of my life this past year has given me a creative outlet that I was missing," she says.

That balance has carried over to the hockey field. Since arriving at Wesleyan, Tolbert has made an immediate offensive impact while learning that success depends as much on supporting teammates as it does on individual performance. "Everyone has such a high level of competitiveness without sacrificing kindness or loyalty," she says.

Playing has also reshaped her mindset around mistakes. Rather than allowing setbacks to linger, she has learned to move forward quickly, adapt to changing roles, and trust that enjoying the game ultimately leads to better performance.

Looking ahead, Tolbert hopes to continue embracing everything Wesleyan has to offer, both inside and outside the classroom. She wants to leave campus knowing she explored new interests, challenged herself academically, and built lasting relationships with classmates, professors, and teammates. That same commitment to combining her passions extends beyond Wesleyan. This summer, Tolbert is serving as an administrative intern at the Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA) in Evanston, Illinois, a nonprofit that provides music, drama, dance, and art therapy throughout the Chicago area. Alongside her administrative responsibilities, she has the opportunity to observe clinical sessions with music therapists, giving her firsthand insight into the therapeutic power of the arts. The experience brings together her interests in psychology, education, and music while allowing her to see how creativity can make a meaningful impact in people's lives.

More than anything, she hopes to carry Wesleyan's culture of curiosity into whatever comes next. "I want to carry the curiosity and open-mindedness that Wesleyan fosters into my career and personal relationships," she says.

Whether she's competing on the field hockey field, leading a band rehearsal, or engaging in thoughtful classroom discussions, Tolbert has embraced the idea that growth comes from pursuing every passion with equal enthusiasm. At Wesleyan, she hasn't had to choose between athletics, academics, or creativity. Instead, she has discovered that each one makes the others stronger.