WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Erin Griffin arrived at William & Mary with an athlete's energy and an open mind. She didn't know exactly what she wanted to study or who she might become, but she felt certain the place could shape her into someone who would make an impact.

Now, as she prepares to graduate with a degree in human health and physiology and begin teaching at Success Academy in New York City, Griffin can see how every chapter—from her first days on campus to her final season on the field—prepared her to help others grow.

"I knew I wanted to help people," Griffin said. "I'm a very high-paced individual—I can't sit down, I have to be up and moving—and I realized I wanted to be around people every day and have an impact on them. That's when I started to think, I could be a teacher."

A Path to the Tribe

Griffin grew up in Riverside, Connecticut, where her first love was ice hockey. "As soon as I learned to walk, my dad put me in skates," she said. She played with boys' teams for years, then joined the elite Mid Fairfield program, commuting hours for practices and tournaments. The grind was thrilling—and exhausting. "It was homework in the car, eating in the car, getting home late," she said. "I loved it, but it was a lot."

When she found field hockey as a freshman in high school, everything clicked. "My high school had a great program, the coach was also my gym teacher," Griffin said. "He kept telling me in middle school to try field hockey because I had hands from ice hockey. I kept saying, 'No, I'm a hockey player.' But eventually I made the switch, and I fell in love with it." She also added "I was extremely fortunate that my school coach also ran the AGH Field Hockey Club program so all of my field hockey was with the same great coaches and at the same fields."

Field hockey also brought Griffin closer to home, to friends, and—eventually—to William & Mary. During the pandemic, when recruiting was complicated and travel was limited, it was a neighbor and former Tribe field hockey player who suggested Griffin look at William & Mary. "I connected with Tess, she saw my film, they watched me at Indoor Nationals, and few couple of weeks later, I was here."

Griffin considered other schools—mostly in the Northeast, and even considered playing lacrosse along with field hockey —but nothing felt quite like Williamsburg. "When I talked to Tess, she was so lively and passionate," Griffin said. "She was honest and upfront, and she was the same person in person as she was on the phone. And when I stepped on campus, even on a gloomy day, I just felt it—this is home."

Becoming a Tribe Field Hockey Player

From her first season, Griffin felt the team's culture of connection and service. "First year coming in, it was a family right away," she said. "I still quote things the seniors said to me when I was a freshman. They were the best leaders." That sense of belonging never faded. "Each year, I grew as a person because of my teammates," she said. "There's so much laughter and fun that surrounds all the hard work. We push each other, and we do it together."

Griffin's athletic background also gave her an edge in field hockey's most fearless moments. "I was the flyer on corners," she said, laughing. "The faster you get out there, the less danger you face. My parents made me wear an ice hockey glove because they didn't want me breaking my hand."

In her four seasons at W&M, Griffin played in 59 games, including starting all 34 contests over the last two years. She totaled four career goals and was a key player in helping the Tribe to a CAA Championship and an open-round NCAA Tournament win in 2023.

Those small traditions—and the people who shared them—became the foundation of Griffin's Tribe experience. "I lived with three teammates this past year, and it was incredible," she said. "It's just such a unique thing. I'll be in touch with so many people for years to come."

Learning to Serve

What stood out most to Griffin about William & Mary field hockey was the team's commitment to serving others. "For Tess, she wants you to be a great hockey player, but she wants you to be an even better person," Griffin said. "We do a lot of community service, and it brings us together."

One memory in particular captures that spirit. "My freshman spring, Tess had us all garden her neighbor's yard because he needed help," Griffin said. "We were painting a fence and laughing hysterically. It was a Sunday in the spring—we were taking time out of our day to help someone, and we became closer because of it. That's what Tess teaches us: let's help each other."

That perspective shaped Griffin's academic journey enjoying the full liberal arts education at William & Mary. "I came in with an open mind," she said. "I didn't really know what I wanted to study. I just took classes that interested me." Over time, she realized she wanted to build a career around helping others. "I wanted to be around people," she said. "I'm always driven, always moving—I needed something where I could be on my feet and make a difference."

At first, she thought that might mean nursing. "I was leaning toward becoming a nurse because I knew I could help people," she said. "My professors were awesome, and that helped me realize teaching was what I wanted to do. I wanted to have that impact on kids."

Teaching in New York City

When Success Academy, a charter school network in New York City, reached out to her, Griffin was intrigued. "I did some research and found out I knew someone that had a wonderful experience there," she said. "I want to get up every day and be excited to go to work. I want that feeling."

Griffin will be teaching middle school at the network's Hudson Yards campus. "I like to think that all my time with Tess and the Tribe coaches has prepared me for this amazing experience ahead."

For Griffin, the move is a dream come true. "I always wanted to be in New York," she said. "My brother's there, and there's a huge Tribe family in the city. I know I'll have people around me."

She also knows her family is proud. "My dad always wanted me to go into education or medicine," she said. "He gave me great advice, and I'm really happy he did."

A Legacy of Courage and Connection

As she leaves Williamsburg, Griffin is grateful for the people and moments that shaped her. "I hope I've made an impact," she said. "I'm leaving behind the hockey glove for the next flyer, and I'm excited to see who carries it forward."

She's also carrying with her the lessons of Tribe field hockey—leadership, service, and love. "That's what Tess taught us, and that's what I'll take into my classroom."

Griffin heads to New York with the same mindset she brought to every game: run toward the challenge, trust your team, and lead with heart.