Stephanie Burnham: “I'm the type of person that if I'm told I can't do something, I'll do it. If I'm told I can't work in the NFL, I'll do it.'' “Work in the NFL.'' I strongly believe that when push comes to shove, I always ask myself if I don't do something, will I regret it. That was the best part of my journey – if I hadn't taken this on, if I had traveled to America. I knew I would end up wondering what would have happened if I hadn't gone.”
Like Burnham, all of these women took some risks to get to where they are today. In order to do so, I needed a lot of support and encouragement from my family and friends.
In Caprini's case, she had to start with the Patriots while finishing her senior year and swimming season. Even she doubted it would work out, but she managed to turn that internship into a full-time job.
Emily Caprini: “My father told me that if this is something I really love, I will do well because I have great support around me to help me do it.I went through the entire interview process and the final They offered me that position. My coaches and coaches.”
Stephanie Burnham: “My family has always been very supportive. Every team I've ever worked for has always sent me some kind of merchandise. But with the Patriots, my mom always said she was going to wear a Patriots hat in Sydney. Let me tell you, she gets stopped or sees other people wearing it and strikes up a conversation, asks if she's a fan, and tells her her daughter works on the team. “”
When Burnham tells his story, he makes sure to mention that he wouldn't be where he is today without the support of his mother, Virginia, and three sisters, Samantha, Annabelle, and Juliet. At every point in her journey, they shared how proud they were of her, which motivated her to keep going.
Burnham's father also played an important role in her journey, serving as a sounding board for career advice. He had lived and worked in Switzerland for most of her life after her parents' divorce, but he helped fund her first flight to the United States to pursue her dreams.
He died of cancer in August 2016, just two months before she left on her trip.
Stephanie Burnham: “It's sad. He never got to see me succeed. So many people doubted my dreams and he never imagined I would get this far. Unfortunately, he didn't get to see it all work out, but he at least played a small part in starting my journey. ”
The reality is that no one's story is complete without sacrifice.
For all that it takes to support the growth and performance of professional athletes, not enough is said about how much time and effort goes into those in support roles. The time is long, the road is tough, the competition is fierce, but nothing is. Like I finally did it.
Sam Couture: “When it comes to work-life balance, what has helped me is taking a step back and appreciating everything I have, despite my unconventional schedule. It's not always easy, but… , that's so great.'' “Do I get to see the whole country? Or do I get to travel abroad? It's not that I don't count it as a job, but it's something that comes naturally to me.'' It’s a unique element of this job that I don’t think about.”
Kathy Epstein: “I remember the first day I drove here, I got off Route 1 and saw Gillette Stadium. I sat in the car and thought, 'I can't believe this is my office.' I remember, right? I'm driving a car.'' “I went up to this huge building and in a small way, I was able to be a part of this incredible thing. I always tell people, this is such a great combination of absolutely fascinating moments that people are going to see, and I'm like, “Oh my gosh, you did the best job.'' And I think you are. But there's a lot of work that people don't get to see, and it's not as glamorous as you can imagine. But I've been to the Super Bowl, and I've been in a room with a lot of people that I never could have imagined seeing how things were. It will be very interesting to see how it works. ”
Emily Caprini: “I was really excited, especially when I got my first internship. I had always wanted to work in the sports field, so it was very surreal to see that I was actually here and it was exactly what I wanted. There was a heart-wrenching moment when I realized I was doing something. This is the industry I've always wanted to work in. It's crazy.”
Stephanie Burnham: “It's insane that I'm in the NFL right now. I'm a woman from Australia and I work for the New England Patriots. I never thought I'd make it here. It's been really tough. “Even though I work, I always thought of it as an investment in my career, and now, no matter who I talk to, I want to give back to other women who are trying to get into the league.'' I would like to.”
On game days, Burnham always lets her hair down. She wants the little girls watching the games to see that representation on the NFL sidelines.
In their own way, they are doing all they can to help those who come after them. Some people have benefited from seeing role models at an early age, while others have carved out their own path.
Emily Caprini: “That's one of the things I'm so grateful for, because in my generation there were pioneers who led the way. Being a woman in sports is empowering and I'm very grateful that I I hope to be a role model for those who follow me.”
Robin Glaser: “Skills are important, and there is no doubt that we strive to be independent in terms of our abilities. We have had successes and failures, but if we can compete on our own merits, we can have confidence in ourselves. But sometimes that is also important.”As a woman, I'd like to acknowledge that things are getting a little more difficult because opportunities are coming at us less frequently and we're a little more reliant on advocacy and alliances. As a woman, it has to be important to me that I'm a woman in football. It has to be. ”
