My Carolina Experience: Breada Farrell
August 12, 2015 | Women's Lacrosse
My Carolina Experience: Breada Farrell
By Zoya Johnson, GoHeels.com
Lacrosse became the center of Breada Farrell's world when she began playing for a travel league in the fifth grade. From that moment on everything she did was grounded in her love of the sport. “I spent each summer competing with teams across the nation and loved it.
“I believe my level of play developed throughout the summer as I was exposed to different styles of play. I started getting recruited in my sophomore year of high school and was committed to UNC in the midst of my junior year, after I completed my SATs.
“Initially, I was overjoyed and shocked by the recruiting letters, and calls from coaches. As I narrowed down my decision, I realized that I loved everything about UNC, from the hospitable team, to the athletic community, to the bustling campus life. All that, coupled with Jenny's (Levy) coaching style, the fun athletic atmosphere, and the academic support that my teammates and I were provided begged the question, 'What else could you ask for from a Division I program in the ACC?”
Once on campus, Farrell's goals were consistent each year. She wanted to perform on and off the field like a champion. Each year those goals changed as her focus on how to quantify how well she was doing in those areas evolved. Farrell went from just wanting to win games, to thinking about how to help her team secure a championship. In the classroom, her focus shifted from simply achieving good grades to seeking and securing internships for her pursuits outside of lacrosse.
“I believe Carolina helped me grow in so many different areas in my life, because I was challenged in so many ways with new experiences and opportunities on a regular basis. I participated in various activities with organizations like Carolina Outreach and Carolina Dreams.
“As a member of the Tri Delta Alpha Sigma sorority I was exposed to just about every facet of campus life, and the many ways my position as a part of that organization and as an athlete impacted others. Because I had such a full plate between practices, being a part of Tri Delta, studying, and having a social life I had to learn to manage and prioritize my time. This helped me develop a strong, committed, balanced and determined work ethic for later in life.”
Looking back on achieving her goals in college and then going on to making her way in the corporate world, Farrell feels the people she met throughout college had a lot to do with the person she became and the person she is still trying to become.
It was in her communications classes that Farrell realized advertising was something she wanted to pursue. When she secured her internship in the fashion industry after graduating, she realized that she was better suited for media. Two years after graduating from Carolina, with some hard work and networking, she found herself working for NBC in the 30 Rock offices.
“I love being in ad sales. I love the idea of winning business with new prospective clients and serving client needs. The sales culture is both fun, challenging and competitive. I find that training as an athlete has prepared me for the various challenges I may encounter throughout a day, like effectively communicating with my current co-workers, understanding new concepts, or completing tasks in a timely manner.
“I believe UNC academics & athletics have helped me understand the importance of goal-setting and how to realistically manage your days. After a recent conversation with former and current teammate via New York Athletic Club, Kristen Taylor, I was reminded of this concept when she mentioned a Nike conference she attended. The speaker talked about goal setting and keeping up with and re-evaluating your goals every six months.
“Since that conversation, I've spent an hour or so on my weekends re-evaluating my personal and professional goals to set a general idea of what I'd like to accomplish in my future.”
In Farrell's eyes, the best part of Carolina was the people she met and the opportunity to grow with them on a daily basis in so many different circumstances. From rehabbing and regaining her confidence on the field to being a part of the 2013 national championship winning team. From finding herself outside of a sport she'd dedicated so much of herself to, to falling in love with her major and becoming a leader and inspiration in outreach for her athletic and Greek peers alike. Through it all, Farrell grew in more ways than she could have hoped and she still managed to hold onto her love of the sport. Amidst her constant drive to better herself in the corporate world, Farrell has found time to represent Ireland in the European Championships this coming August.