Each week, the Record (using a script in R) randomly selects a student at the College for our One in Two Thousand feature, excluding current Record board members. This week, Kelly Beal ’25 discussed her love for the women’s soccer team, her favorite memories from studying abroad, and her hopes for her final semester at the College. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Quinn Casey (QC): You’re entering your final semester at the College. How does it feel?
Kelly Beal (KB): I’m just thinking about all of my lasts. It’s kind of bittersweet. I’m excited for this next chapter of my life because of all the opportunities that the College has given me, but I’ll miss being in this small town. I don’t think I’m going to be in an environment like this ever again.
QC: What are you going to miss the most about Williamstown?
KB: I’ll miss seeing all of my friends in one place. As people graduate college, they go their separate ways. I’m not necessarily ready for that, but I’m excited to see everyone living their lives outside of Williamstown.
QC: We met in our freshman year as entrymates. How have your feelings toward the College changed since our first semester?
KB: Oh, they’ve changed drastically. I was considering transferring. [Laughs.] I did not have the best experience during freshman fall, because it was the era of COVID and I was in a long-distance relationship, which is always hard — should I say that?
QC: Why not? [Laughs.]
KB: I was one foot in the door, one foot out. Then, I just bought into the Williams culture a little bit more. The spring of my freshman year was one of the best parts of my Williams experience. I got a lot closer with my teammates, and I found good groups of people. I grew to love it.
QC: You mentioned your teammates. Tell me more about your time with the women’s soccer team.
KB: It is my favorite group of people ever. The team really helped me love Williams, especially during the fall semesters, while we’re in season. Of course, I remember the wins, losses, and hardships, but I also remember doing the most mundane things, like going to the library with the team and just enjoying spending time with each other. We also have this really cool tradition called “Secret Psych.” At the beginning of the season, we each pick a name at random and that person is your Secret Psych: Before every home game, you’ll hype them up and make them feel really loved and appreciated. You make them a larger, more personal gift for our game against Amherst.
QC: What have you received from your Secret Psychs?
KB: I’ve received a customized Williams cowboy hat. I’ve seen some people receive funny poems, candy, and goodies. It just goes to show how much everyone on the team cares about each other and really takes the time to get to know each other. I’ve been playing soccer for 18 years of my life, so for it to be over is hard. I love that my last chapter of it was with this group of girls.
QC: That’s so sweet. You studied abroad with some of your teammates in Barcelona. What was that experience like?
KB: It was great to go abroad with them. I took Spanish in high school. Did I retain a lot of it? No. Did I use a lot of it there? No. [Laughs.] But it was an incredible city. I just love the culture there. That’s one of the reasons why I was looking at D3 schools for soccer, and Williams specifically, because I wanted the opportunity to go abroad.
QC: What aspects of the culture did you enjoy?
KB: They have siesta from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. People spend their time resting. It was prime time for napping.
QC: Thank God, for the city’s sake.
KB: Truly. [Laughs.]
QC: Do you have a favorite trip from your time abroad?
KB: My favorite trip was to Amsterdam. We went there to see the tulip fields, which were absolutely stunning. I also had incredible food, like this pastry called a “crookie.” It’s a combination between a croissant and a cookie. It was beautiful.
QC: Unfortunately, I went abroad in the fall semester of junior year, so we missed a full year together at Williams. How did it feel without me on campus?
KB: It was like there was a hole in my heart. The campus was gray. Your lack of presence was felt.
QC: Oh. I was fine without you. [Laughs.] Just kidding. What are you most looking forward to in the spring semester and after graduation?
KB: I’m looking forward to saying yes to more things. I want to do more Williams-esque things, whatever that means. For postgrad, I think I’m most excited to live in a new place and meet new people. I know that I’ll be in a city, so I’m excited for the opportunity to grow up a little and have my adult life.
QC: Any final thoughts?
KB: I will say that Williams pleasantly surprised me. I think it would be difficult to find this number of kind people who genuinely care about you at other schools. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I think Williams just fosters that kind of environment. No hate to this random D3 liberal arts school in the middle of nowhere. [Laughs.]
QC: And that’s all she wrote.
KB: Exactly.
