Why Stonehill?
Honestly, my answer was simple. It was the best soccer offer I received, and a great mix of athletics and academics. That was it, my complete thought process. Today, Stonehill is much more. It is where I play Division I soccer, met my best friends, studied abroad, secured a great internship, and constantly learned and improved.

Evolution Over Four Years …
When I first stepped onto the Stonehill campus, I was shy, quiet, and thought I was confident. I believed in my soccer ability, but I didn't always show it. I hung my head at times and felt sorry for myself when I didn't perform my best. I feel I've come a long way on and off the field since my freshman year, though I'm still growing.

At practice this preseason, I missed three opportunities in a row to score and walked back with my head down. Reflecting on the practice, I told myself the next time I miss, I'll walk back with my head up and score the next one. If I miss the next one, I'll keep my head up and hit the third one with confidence. I'm still not perfect or always confident, but this is a different perspective than I had three years ago.

Early on in your college career, it's extremely difficult to have a growth mindset. You're used to starting and playing every game in high school, and the possibility of sitting on the bench frightens you. You think you must be perfect and avoid mistakes. Over time, I've realized mistakes have led to growth.  

Best Moments …
My best academic moment at Stonehill came this past summer as an intern at Fidelity Investments. I saw how all my athletic and academic experiences at Stonehill paid off. I was in a difficult role with some very impressive students from prestigious schools. The curiosity and work ethic that I developed at Stonehill allowed me to stand out on our final presentation day. I can confidently say I was the most prepared intern come presentation day, and I was able to deliver confidently to the leadership team. I would not have been able to do that without struggling through the mental challenges soccer provided. I played sparingly as a freshman and didn't score a goal as a starting midfielder sophomore year. Those seemed like failures, but I stayed hungry, learned, and improved. On the athletic side, being named a captain for my senior season stands out as my proudest achievement, a reflection of my commitment to the team and my work ethic over the past four years.

Lessons Learned
The main thing I have learned about myself throughout my Stonehill career is that I love to improve. If I love something, I want to be as good at it as I possibly can. I've learned it's okay to be frustrated when I don't reach my standards, but there is no use in comparing myself to others. I've also learned to stop blaming external factors and instead look within first. Learning to solve problems and do my best in whatever position I'm put in is something I'll carry with me forever.

Confidence, curiosity, problem-solving, and a love of improvement are skills I'll take with me beyond graduation. I am honored to be named a Senior captain for the 2025 fall season, but I hope my greatest athletic achievement is still to come – winning the NEC Championship this November.

Thank you, Stonehill.
-Owen Burke

To view past Stonehill Senior Reflections, visit the "Senior Reflections" page on StonehillSkyhawks.com