By: Athletic Communications Assistant Erin Madden
BEREA, Ohio – Eighteen credit hours a semester. Participation in a choir, orchestra or band ensemble. Clinical hours. Weekly vocal lessons. Student teaching. Practice.
These are just a few of the demands of a music education major studying in the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music. It's no wonder, then, why only two conservatory students currently compete in NCAA Division III athletics at BW.
Enter Claire Makowski, one of those two conservatory student-athletes. The junior music education major doesn't just compete in one sport but, rather, three: cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.
Although she wouldn't really describe her family as musicians, a piano at her grandma's house sparked Makowski's initial interest in music.
"When I was little, I'd try and tink around on the piano and do it for fun," Makowski reminisced. "When my grandma and my parents saw that I was really passionate about it, they got me lessons. That just grew into this really big passion of music being a really, really big part of my life."
Her passion only grew when she discovered choir in middle school and high school and realized that she was also a good singer. When she was feeling overwhelmed by the transition from a small Catholic grade school to a large public high school, Makowski was approached by her choir teacher who sought to offer some help.
"I remember, he pulled me aside one of the first days and said, 'There's a voice in you and I'm going to get it out. I know it's in there,'" Makowski said. "That might not be something that he does to every student, or maybe he does, but especially since he did that to me, it made me feel more confident in myself."
Throughout her high school years, together they found her voice and that she was at a collegiate-caliber level. So when it came time to explore her post-secondary options, Makowski knew that she wanted to teach in some aspect.
"I really love and enjoy teaching people things," Makowski explained. "I think it's an amazing thing to do, to be able to pass on your knowledge to someone else."
By chance, a family friend who attends John Carroll University knew that Makowski was interested in a music degree and suggested BW would make a good fit for college. From there, she also knew she wanted to continue to run competitively so she got in touch with Coordinator of Cross Country and Track and Field and Head Cross Country Coach Joe Eby and stayed in close contact.
"Ironically, I was recruiting about three girls from her school but she was the one, obviously, who showed the most interest," Eby remembered. "I just kept calling her and kept staying in touch. She was somebody that I thought would fit well with our program and where we were trying to build at the time."
Makowski added, "He was one of the only college coaches who would give me the time of day and get to know me as a student.
Once Makowski got on campus, met Eby and the music education professors and had her audition, she "just fell in love with everything." Two years later, being both a three-sport athlete as well as a conservatory student has taught Makowski a lot of different lessons.
"Everyone thinks that music and running and sports are on opposite ends, but they're not," Makowski said. "I'm starting to see that, especially these past couple of years. If you are going to get better at your instrument, you have to practice. Same with running. There's just so many similarities with the dedication and everything."
The way she balances her schedule is nothing short of incredible. Last fall, Makowski and Eby met for workouts at 5:15 a.m. Tuesday mornings since that was the only time she had free in her schedule. Some days, they would run around the outdoor track in the dark. Other times, the lights were on and they were joined by the football team.
Makowski also has to pick and choose her battles when it comes to meets, often deciding whether to miss class or the meet itself, which she has done multiple times.
"We just kind of figured it out as we went," Eby said. "Her dedication is very impressive."
She's had to fight other battles as well. Makowski has frequently heard the words, "You're not going to be able to do it." Even her college professors told her she wouldn't make it one semester, let alone two years, as a student-athlete and a conservatory student. The nay-sayers only fed her drive and passion.
"I'm one of those people that, if someone says you can't do it, I have to," Makowski explained. "Them saying that pushed me to continue. Being a part of this team, with the people that I've grown closer to, I can't leave now."
Eby added, "She's a very good student and she is a very good runner. She is very dedicated to both of her crafts. My goal for her is her goal for her, to see her successfully complete four years of being a conservatory student athlete, which is a really impressive feat."
Now, the conservatory has Makowski speak to other students about time management and being able to do multiple things at the same time.
"I think it's important for students to know that you should do what you want to do, what you're passionate about, even though you have people on the left and right saying you can't, because it's worth it in the end," Makowski said. "Three years in, I'm still going and it's worth it."
