More Than Just An Equestrian 我会马术，我还会..

A series featuring remarkable SAS students who work to embrace their many layers of talent and passion.

这是我们推出的系列文章，讲述我们特色鲜明的上海美国学校学生在各个领域不断接纳自己的各种天赋与爱好.

Harriette Thomas, Class of ’21, Shanghai American School, Puxi Campus

上海美国学校浦西校区十年级学生Harriette Thomas

We hear you have some varied interests that people wouldn’t normally think go together. Can you tell us about these?

我们听说你拥有一些人们通常认为不属于同一类的兴趣爱好。你能跟我们讲讲吗？

I started riding horses when I was 5 and haven't looked back since. Immediately I found a connection in riding that I wasn't able to find in other sports, and horses soon became a huge part of my life. Even moving here, I had to keep riding. Toby, this crazy young horse, has completely changed my life here in Shanghai, and is truly my rock. Additionally, in 8th grade I met a best friend, with whom I started a small apparel brand called Hart Outfitters, which has been growing ever since.

我五岁的时候开始学骑马，从此一发不可收拾。与其他运动项目不同的是，我立即喜爱上了骑马这项运动，骑马很快也成为了我生命中不可或缺的一部分。即便是来到这里以后，我还是坚持骑马。Toby这匹疯狂的小马完全改变了我在上海的生活，是我的乐趣来源。此外，我在八年级结识了我最好的朋友，我们两人推出了一个名为Hart Outfitters的服装品牌，这个品牌一直在不断发展壮大。

In 10th grade, branching out, I also decided to join the rugby program at SAS, finding a strong love in that sport as well. The team atmosphere was unlike anything I have ever experienced.

十年级的时候，我还加入了上海美国学校的橄榄球项目，同样深深爱上了这项运动。橄榄球队的团队氛围是我从未体验过的。

What do these different interests each add to your life?

这些不同的兴趣爱好为你的生活增添了什么？

Riding has added so much to my life, I don't even know where to begin. It's my home, my safe place, and, I believe, has taught me more perseverance than anything else could ever have taught me. Rugby has taught me the importance of teamwork and support more than any other team I have ever been a part of. Hart Outfitters, has brought together everything I have learned from academics and life. As co-founder, I have learned so much about fabrics, design, distribution and analytics, as well as how to manage deadlines, and communicate around problems that arise.

骑马为我的生活增色不少，我甚至不知道从何说起。骑马是我的港湾，比起其他事情骑马让我学会了坚持不懈。橄榄球比我加入的任何球队都更能让我认识到团队合作的重要性。Hart Outfitters整合了我在学习和生活中学到的一切。作为联合创始人，我学到了关于织物、设计、分销和分析的很多知识，学会了如何对截止日期进行管理，如何针对出现的问题进行沟通。

Do you ever feel pressure to choose between them and just have one thing you love? If so, where does that pressure come from?

你有没有感到多选一的压力，有没有想过只选择一个兴趣爱好？如果是的话，这种压力来自哪里？

Never. I sat in my counselor’s office last year wondering how I was going to fit all of these passions into my schedule. Could I actually do this? Should I be doing this? I realized that no matter what, I was going to do what I loved and I would make time for these things. Riding will always be my first priority when it comes to after school activities, and everything else will follow suit. I would say that the most pressure comes from my parents worrying that I've pushed myself too hard for too long, but I'm so thankful for them being there to support me if I ever do feel this way. To be honest, I feel like choosing would only limit me, and that is the last thing I want to do. I'm a huge believer in choice and that choice is one of the main things I want out of life when I'm older: the ability to choose to do or not do something and be completely okay with that choice, no regrets or resentment.

从未有过。去年，我坐在辅导员办公室里，心想，我如何将所有这些兴趣爱好融入到我的日程安排中？我真的能够做到吗？我应该这样做吗？我意识到，无论如何，我都要做我喜欢做的事情并为此挤出时间。骑马是我课外活动的重中之重，其他兴趣爱好紧随其后。在我看来，最大的压力来自我父母，他们担心我对自己要求太高，但我感谢他们一直以来的支持。说实话，我认为多选一只会限制我的发展，而这是我最不愿意看到的。我非常推崇选择权，这种选择权是我未来最想要的：能够选择做什么，不做什么，不留任何遗憾。

What do you think might be some benefits to being a multi-faceted person?

你认为成为一位“多面手”的好处有哪些？

I think some of the major benefits are the lessons you learn and easily apply to other parts of your life, as well as the ways it essentially forces you to become a time managing professional. Also, it teaches you to truly follow your passion(s), for if there is something that is a part of your life while you are trying to balance many other things, you will soon realize if it truly matters to you or not, based on your drive to continue working hard on whatever it may be.

我认为主要的好处是能够学到很多知识并运用到生活的其他方面，并且能够迫使自己对时间进行管理。此外，这还能够让你真正追求自己的兴趣爱好，因为在你尝试平衡其他很多事情的时候，在你为之付出努力的过程中，你很快会意识到这一兴趣爱好对你来说是否真的重要

If you were limited, and could only do one, how do you think this would change you as a person?

如果你只能选择一个兴趣爱好的话，你认为这会对你产生什么影响？

Without a doubt, I would definitely say that if I had to limit myself to only do one thing, I would be a completely different person. There are so many lessons I would not be able to learn or apply within my life, opportunities that I might miss, and experiences I would not be able to have. This reminds me of how recently, my partner and I were featured in an editorial within the Plaid Horse Magazine and given the opportunity to be guests on their series of podcasts, the Plaidcast. Due to the time difference, this meant staying up until 3am for the interview. We were so honored to have been asked and I realize we would not have had this experience without all the dedication and hard work we have not only put into Hart Outfitters, but every other area of our lives.

毫无疑问，如果我只能选择一个兴趣爱好的话，我将变得与现在完全不同。我将无法学到很多知识并运用到我的生活中，我会错失很多机会，也会失去很多经历。这让我想起了我和我的合伙人最近出现在了Plaid Horse Magazine的一篇社论中，有机会做客他们的Plaidcast播客系列。由于时差原因，这意味着熬夜到凌晨3点。我们非常荣幸能够受邀做客他们的节目。我也意识到，如果我们没有在Hart Outfitters以及我们生活的其他方面投入时间和精力的话，我们就不会有这样的经历。

TALENT.EVERY DAY AT SAS.

才能。就在上海美国学校的每一天。