Written by Natalie Ingersoll '26

Brynn Sweeney '26 is a senior at Germantown Academy who plays on the girls’ soccer team, participates in Belfry, and competes in both the winter and spring track seasons. She developed these passions at different points throughout her life.

Soccer has always been a shared interest between Brynn and her family. In addition to playing on the school team, she also competes in club soccer outside of school. She values the sport for the connections it has helped her build, relationships she may not have formed otherwise.

Brynn has long enjoyed winter track, and her ambition led her to pursue the sport in the spring as well. Theatre has also been a consistent interest. She participated in theatre at her previous middle school and joined the Belfry Club at GA during her junior year. Because many of her friends are involved in Belfry, she is able to spend time with them while strengthening those connections. She also enjoys Belfry as an outlet for creative expression.

She describes Belfry as distinct from track and soccer. While both sports involve practicing and competing, Belfry follows a rehearse-and-perform structure that allows for greater creativity and personal interpretation.

When asked about the most challenging part of balancing her activities, Brynn explained, “The most overwhelming part is during winter track and the musical because they overlap so much. If I am going to one, I am missing evolving in the other.” To manage these demands, she emphasizes the importance of communication with her coaches and teachers.

Despite the challenges, each activity remains meaningful to her. When asked what keeps her motivated during overwhelming moments, she said, “The end product. I am working toward an end product and an end goal, and that keeps me motivated. Especially for soccer—I am going to college for it—so I know I have to stay on top of it and continue to improve.”

Brynn approaches each commitment with passion, discipline, and focus. She understands the work required and continually strives for growth, always keeping her “end product” in mind.

Her involvement in multiple activities has provided valuable life lessons and skills. Each experience contributes to a well-rounded and dynamic skill set. Reflecting on how these activities bring out different aspects of her personality, she shared, “Soccer and track both bring out a competitive side of me in different ways. Soccer is more of a team sport—I play goalie—so while I have individual highs and lows, I have a team behind me. Track is more individual, so when something goes wrong, it is all on me.”

In contrast, Belfry highlights her creativity. As she explains, “Belfry is creative. There are so many rehearsals to make decisions. You can change things, and once you like something, you can keep it.”

Because Brynn is involved in so many areas of Germantown Academy, she has gained a comprehensive view of the school’s offerings. When asked why it is important to engage in multiple experiences, she reflected, “It has opened me up to different groups of people and different connections with both students and adults. It has also taught me important communication skills when balancing different activities. Track has taught me discipline and perseverance, soccer has helped me grow as a teammate and communicator, and Belfry has given me a space to be creative and build confidence. Balancing all three has strengthened my time management and helped me stay focused on what matters most, which translates to my schoolwork.”

Brynn’s passion for each activity she pursues allows her to explore her many interests while gaining valuable lessons unique to each experience.