Family, Unity, Community – People Make the Difference

In honor of National Native American Heritage Month in November, we caught up with Alexis Camacho of softball. Here is her story.

For sophomore student-athlete Alexis Camacho, softball, Dartmouth and her Native American heritage all bring her closer to her family, gives her a purpose beyond herself and allows her to support those around her. Family is central to Camacho's identity and her sense of self.

The sense of unity and trust that both family and team atmospheres provide has given Camacho strength and allowed her to provide strength to others.

"My great, great, great grandmother from Arizona on my mom's side is a part of the Apache tribe," said Camacho. "I am also Mexican, so we have a tie-in with the Aztec culture. It's nice to have that piece of culture. You feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself."

Understanding her own values and perspectives allows Camacho to feel connected with others outside of herself. It also allows her to empathize with those around her, including her teammates.

Head softball coach, Jennifer Williams notices the constant impact Camacho has on the team.

"Alexis has a huge amount of empathy," said Williams. "Something that's really key for her is being able to understand where her teammates are coming from and their perspectives."

Everything Camacho is a part of, including her family, softball, those she has met through softball and her Native American culture, allow her to define herself and bring her unique perspective to whatever she is doing.

"I wouldn't say that our Native American culture is as prominent within my immediate family, but it is very prominent with my grandpa and his grandparents," said Camacho. "However, it's really nice having a culture that's your own. I don't meet a lot of people from my same culture. I meet a lot of people who are Mexican, but Native American isn't as prominent."

One of the reasons Camacho knew she wanted to continue playing softball in college is because she was inspired by her family. She was extremely grateful for all of those who helped and guided her along her athletic and academic journeys, and wanted to honor all they had provided for her.

"It was because of all of the people I've met along the way and the support that I've had," Camacho said. "My family and my coaches I had in travel ball before college, who coached me for around seven years, motivate me. They have put so much time and effort in helping me get to where I am that I really want to do well for them and, in some way, pay them back."

Family has always been a strong force in Camacho's life and is one of the reasons she began playing softball when she was young.

"My mom played softball when she was a little girl," said Camacho. "They didn't really have the money to go further with it and she didn't really have the support at home for it. When I was younger, we were just trying to see what I would get into and I'm pretty sure we just saw a flier for a softball league, so I started playing there and I really liked it."

Camacho tried other sports at school, but never found she liked anything quite as much as softball. She was happy to compete at a sport she loved and establish a bond with her mother over a shared love of the sport.

"When I was 10, right after my first season of playing, I made a travel ball team and I stuck with it," recalled Camacho. "I loved the people I was playing with, and my mom really enjoyed it."

Camacho stuck with the travel ball team, the East Valley Twisters, and found herself excelling at the sport and was able to travel to showcases in high school with the hopes of getting noticed by college coaches looking to recruit athletes.

"Dartmouth came to one of my games during sophomore year," remembered Camacho. "They weren't really able to talk to me until I was a junior. Once I visited Dartmouth my junior year, I really fell in love with the school. It was my first campus visit. I knew right away once I met the team that Dartmouth was where I wanted to go."

The family-like, tight-knit atmosphere stood out to Camacho immediately during her first campus visit and it's something she is proud to be a part of now.

"When I came on the campus visit to Dartmouth, I loved the girls and the team culture so much," said Camacho. "I knew college wouldn't be the same without sports."

Coach Williams can attest to Camacho's ability to contribute to team unity.

"Alexis really appreciates having a close-knit team and having a team that supports each other," said Williams. "She's been a driving force in helping us as coaches and her teammates recognize and remember the importance of that close atmosphere."

Williams also recognizes Camacho's competitiveness, enthusiasm and drive. All of which make her a fierce athlete and teammate.

"Alexis is a very competitive person; she loves to compete. She also loves to test herself and test the limits of her own potential to the fullest," said Williams. "Her competitive advantage is her fire."

Camacho finds herself to be intrinsically motivated and determined. Her mindset at practice and during games is what makes her competitive and allows her to elevate her teammates along with herself.

"I would say what sets me apart is my resilience," said Camacho. "I'm always extremely determined, and I've always found a way to get through any obstacle that's ever been put in my way. A lot of the time, I can self-motivate. If I really want something, I'm going to find a way to achieve it."

Trust in herself and her teammates also allows Camacho to perform at her best and be the most impactful and supportive teammate she can be.

"When we have a lot of trust in each other, we can rely on each other to get our work done and to give our full, complete effort," said Camacho. "If there is a day that we're not performing as well as we want, we know because we have trust in each other, that we love the game and we respect each other, so we're putting in as much effort as we can."

Camacho has always valued trust and empathy. She recalls her effort to be there for others and to try to understand and hear them, even from a young age. Because of this, Camacho decided to pursue psychology as a major at Dartmouth College.

"In middle school and high school, I always found myself to be there for people, to support them and to talk them through things," remembered Camacho. "I gravitated towards psychology. Psychology is pretty prominent in sports as well. You really must understand your teammates and where they are coming from. It is also nice to have that advantage over the other team."

Camacho finds pride in her ability to listen to others, understand them and support them. She remembers that growing up, her family supported her and made sacrifices for her, and she is where she is because of them.

"All of the sacrifices my mom has made push me to succeed in everything that I do academically," said Camacho. "Even on days when I'm tired and I don't want to study, I remember how much my mom has sacrificed and what my education means. I don't take my education for granted at all."

"It's very pivotal in my life."

Much of what Camacho has accomplished so far on the softball diamond and in the classroom relates to her support of others, and the support she has received from family, friends and coaches. Camacho certainly is a part of something bigger than herself through her Native American heritage, softball and her close relationships with friends and family.

In this way, she is able to impact those around her just as they have impacted her.