While an individual’s behavior is always their personal responsibility, influences do happen that can affect their performance and a team’s morale. Jackie Schneider, a standout senior athlete on both the women’s ice hockey and softball teams, reflects on her time spent with the women’s ice hockey program and the relationships she created over the last four years.

What are your favorite memories while playing hockey at Neumann?

My favorite memories in being a hockey player at Neumann are being a part of a team that has continued to improve every season in order to make it to the playoffs last season, scoring my first NCAA goal against a nationally ranked team, and most importantly all of the memories and friendships that I have made with my teammates over the past 4 years.

What does the Neumann Women’s Ice Hockey team mean to you?

This team means everything to me.  This team has given me so much and it has shaped me into the person that I am today. It has given me some of my closest friends, some of my best memories, and some of the best experiences that I have had during my time at Neumann. Without this team, and the people that I have met along the way, I would not have had the incredible experience that I have had over the last 4 years and I cannot thank them enough for that.

What do you want to tell the next person who wears the #8 jersey?

To the next person that wears #8, I would tell that person to wear it with pride. When you put on that jersey, you are not just representing yourself, you are representing your teammates, the school, and all of the people around you that have supported you along the way.  It is an honor to be able to put on the #8 jersey and represent something much bigger than yourself, so wear it with pride and don’t take the opportunity that you have for granted.

How has your Neumann experience prepared you for life after athletics?

I think that my Neumann experience has prepared me extremely well for my life after athletics.  I think that being a part of this team and the friendships that I made along the way did a great job at preparing me for my life after athletics.  I think that the biggest way this experience has helped me prepare for my life after athletics are the friendships that I have made throughout my time here. My experience at Neumann and as part of the hockey team have provided me with life-long friendships that I will have long after my time as an athlete at Neumann ends.  I think that the idea of having these friends by your side allows you to face life after athletics knowing that you will have people by your side supporting you through anything that life has to throw at you.

What is one final message you want to tell your teammates?

I want to thank them for everything that they have done to make these past 4 years something that I will cherish forever.  Without the support of my teammates throughout the past 4 years, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.  I would also tell them to play every day like it’s the last time they will get to play this game.  Live in the moment as you never know when it’s going to be the last time. These 4 years have gone by in the blink of an eye and before you know it you will be in this position giving your teammates one final message on your senior day.