Meet Brianna Ter Horst, a first-year student from Falmouth, Maine. Over the next four years, we’ll periodically connect with Brianna to learn about her college experiences — including successes, obstacles, discoveries and growth. 

When Brianna Ter Horst has quality time with her friends and family, she feels energized and inspired. At Colby-Sawyer, the first-year student from Falmouth, Maine, gets plenty of both. 

Ter Horst feels fortunate to have as her roommate Grace Joly; they played club lacrosse together in Maine. ‘‘We work together so well, balance each other out and have each other’s back,” Ter Horst said. "She's caring and funny. I think we’re going to be best friends for life.” 

Ter Horst liked that during the three-week field hockey preseason prior to the start of fall classes, she could concentrate on bonding with teammates and other student-athletes while becoming familiar with campus.  

"It helped a lot with my transition," said the business administration major and sport management minor. "I came here knowing I could focus on meeting people and getting to know the coaches and their expectations, then transitioning into college.” 

Ter Horst also appreciates that she can stay connected with her parents, who live close enough to attend weekend games. “I’m the type of person," she said, "who needs to be around the people I love."

She said the entire field hockey season was incredible; the cohesive group finished as runner-up in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

“These girls are my family. Everyone on the field hockey and lacrosse teams shows up every day ready to work, which motivates me on and off the field and pushes me to be a better person and player," she said. “I hope everyone gets to eventually be part of a team — it doesn’t have to be a sport — because it really helps you grow as a person." 

Courtney Lampert ’18, ’24, assistant field hockey and women's lacrosse coach, recruited Ter Horst, who decided after a Zoom call with Lampert that she wanted to visit campus. 

“It felt so welcoming, like I was part of the community already,” she said of her tour. “It was special. I felt seen, which is something that I was looking for in a school.” 

That welcoming feeling has extended to academics. “I wanted to be able to have 1:1 time with professors. That's so valuable because not only do they know who I am, but I also get to know them,” she said. “They’re always willing to meet with me when I need it.” 

During the fall semester, she liked exploring interesting topics in Writing, gaining valuable skills in  Business Technology and Applications and learning how food is affected by economics, cultural practices, government and advertising in her First Year Experience course. 

While Ter Horst was initially unsure whether she was ready to live independently, that concern has subsided. The discipline she developed during high school through classes, athletics, clubs and volunteer service prepared her well. And she’s excited to learn, grow and plan for the future, which will likely include pursuing a 4+ 1 MBA. 

In college, Ter Horst said she has a newfound appreciation for her family. Before moving to Maine, they lived in Wisconsin and enjoyed sports (Go, Packers!), hiking and traveling throughout the United States.  

Ter Horst still welcomes her mother’s sage advice. "She'll remind me that I am who I surround myself with and that quality is more important than quantity. The people I have around me build me up and help me grow as a person every day,” she said.  

“I’m still finding myself, but I feel like I can fully be myself, which is important when you are finding a school for you.”