Elizabeth Doran

By Hannah Doran

Elizabeth Doran. To the majority of the population, that name has little or no significance, but to me, that name signifies a woman who inspires me to excel in every aspect of my life. Whether that is academically or physically, she has taught me how to live a healthy lifestyle and how to balance healthy habits while many things are on my plate at once. Her example of hard work, dedication and time management helped me become the health conscious person I am today. I can confidently say I would not be where I am today without the guidance from my older sister.

When I was in middle school, my older sister Elizabeth went off to college at Santa Clara University to pursue a degree in bioengineering, while earning an athletic scholarship to play basketball for the Broncos. This was a hard transition time for me. I never had been separated from my older sister for long periods of time, and I didn’t even realize how much I needed her until she was gone. I had always been in sports: basketball, soccer, volleyball, track, you name it; but, I never had the desire, nor the motivation, to eat healthy and push myself physically.

"I wanted to be exactly like her."

I didn’t get to see Elizabeth often, she was so busy with school and basketball, I only saw her for a few days at Christmas and spring break. I did, however, get to watch her games online. I had her schedule posted above my headboard, and counted down the days until her next game so I could watch her play. My mom, dad and I would huddle around the computer to cheer her and her team on. She was inspiring. She was by far the hardest worker on the court, and made things happen both offensively and defensively every time she was in the game. I wanted to be exactly like her.

Elizabeth lived at home the summer following her freshman year, and I would not leave her alone. I told her that I wanted to become a college basketball player, and that I wanted to learn her secrets for success. I followed her around that summer everywhere she went. I told my mom I wanted Elizabeth to cook for me, so I could eat what she ate. I went to the gym and did her workouts with her to the best of my ability. She encouraged me and motivated me to push myself. About halfway through the summer, Elizabeth began to teach me how to make balanced meals for myself, how to exercise effectively and efficiently, and how to work on my basketball game. Even when she went back to school, I continued with the habits she taught me.

I got to high school, and wanted to play both water polo and run cross country in the fall to prepare myself physically for basketball in the winter. I called Elizabeth frequently to ask advice on what to pack in my school lunches, and what snacks I should eat before and after practices. She was always there for me and willing to help. I ran track in the spring and joined a summer club basketball team. Elizabeth made it to the games she could and supported me. I found out late in my sophomore year that Elizabeth had been accepted to graduate school in our hometown, and would be pursuing two masters in Public Health and Exercise Science beginning the next fall. I was ecstatic. Even though she wasn’t going to live at home, she was going to be around and I could go see her and get advice whenever I needed it.

Elizabeth knew that I had made the decision to try and play college basketball and follow in her footsteps. She ended up taking an assistant coaching position at my high school. Those final two years were critical for me if I wanted to go anywhere. She continued to help me maintain a healthy diet, and would ask me to come work out with her. She taught me how to properly lift weights and how to balance that with cardio. I soon came to realize that I rarely came across anyone quicker than myself on the basketball court, and all of the work was paying off.

I had an amazing season my senior year, our team took third place at the state tournament, but I was disheartened because I hadn’t received any offers to play basketball in college. Players usually commit their junior year, or early into their senior year. Elizabeth told me to keep working hard, and that it would all fall into place. I remember the phone call I received from Robin Selvig, the coach at the University of Montana. He told me that I would make a great addition to their team for the upcoming season. Coach Rob had built a legacy at Montana, entering his 35th season coaching there, his teams had won the Big Sky Conference over twenty times and had made it to countless NCAA Division tournaments. I began crying as soon as I hung up the phone, there was no other team that I would rather play for, and Elizabeth was the first person I told because I owed everything to her.

While my time at the University of Montana is coming to an end, Elizabeth set me up for success in my college endeavors. I learned how to balance exercise and class, all while able to maintain a healthy diet throughout. As I continue on to graduate school, I will no longer have basketball as an outlet, but I can guarantee that I’ve learned how to live a healthy lifestyle from my older sister. She is an example of health, hard work and dedication. I hope she continues to lead by example, and I hope that more people will be inspired by the name Elizabeth Doran and have their lives touched like mine.

About the Author

Hannah Louise Doran graduated after 4 seasons of play with more than 100 total games played. She is currently attending Oregon State University with the intention of continuing her education with a Master's of Science degree in education. She intends to graduate from the program in June of 2017.