Above: Skyliner Gabriella Romano works as a resource specialist at Tuffts Medical Center. She's pictured with facility dog, Bob, and hospital chaplain, Gráinne Buchanan.
By Troy Schwindt
Synchronized skaters have plenty on their plates when it comes to practicing, learning and perfecting different elements and becoming a cohesive unit come competition time.
It’s a job — albeit a fun and challenging one — that requires commitment, perseverance and time. They are responsible to not only themselves, but to their teammates and coaches as well.
Most of the athletes in the junior and senior ranks also attend high school or college and carry significant course loads.
In addition, many skaters have jobs, and or do volunteer work. Dozens of skaters on Team USA work at a local rink teaching Learn to Skate USA classes or help in the overall operations of a skating facility. Others give their time and talents to such places as animal shelters or nursing homes.
It’s a demanding schedule for anyone at any age, but these athletes seem to thrive juggling many balls at the same time.
Here’s a look at some of the jobs and volunteer work being performed by skaters on U.S. synchronized skating teams.
Rosa Hahn, Haydenettes
I am a medical and research assistant in a primary care clinic, helping patients of all ages. I am passionate about working with children, and they are often my favorite part of my day. At my job, I assist the care providers in the clinic, help with operations and perform minor procedures and hands-on care. My research focuses on childhood mental health, women's health and integrating social programs into welfare systems. I’m applying to medical school and getting my master’s in psychology this year.
Athena Wenger, Teams Elite 12
I am employed as a Starbucks barista. I also intern with a lab at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine where I utilize surgical mouse models to conduct research on the peripheral nervous system. I also volunteer with the Chicago Youth Foundation, a women-led initiative striving to increase accessibility within figure skating to minority and/or low-income families.
Alexis Romano, Skyliners senior
I had a New York Fashion Week internship last fall and I also work for my school’s “Style Shop” and help design the merch for my school (Fashion Institute of Technology).
Gabriella Romano, Skyliners senior
I am a resource specialist at Tufts Medical Center in the CARE Center. I work alongside music therapy, child life specialists, spiritual care and our facility dogs (Bob and Dorothy). I love working in a hospital setting and getting to work in such a fast-paced environment. I think skating prepared me for it in many ways. I spend most of my day in the CARE Center, a non-medical space in the hospital that allows patients to feel a sense of normalcy and calm. We have coaches, arts and crafts, a piano and an outdoor garden. I schedule appointments for patients to come visit and help connect them with our various resources. It can be tough balancing a full-time in person job in Boston while also training with the Skyliners in Connecticut on the weekends. I love my job and I’m so lucky they have been so supportive of my skating.
Selina Wang, Northernettes
I volunteer at a senior living center where I play violin and help out around the facility.
Victoria Buddie and Nicole Buddie, Hayden Select
They work full-time as reporters for the NBC Affiliate 22News in Springfield, Massachusetts, to help pay for their sport. Nicole and Victoria cover local news across western Massachusetts, from breaking news, tragedies to miracle stories. They love being able to investigate and share the stories of people across the region.
Sarah Rios, Fond du Lac Blades
I am a respite worker for two children with autism. I met them through my dad’s special hockey program for kids with special needs. I babysit them during the school year and nanny them during the summer.
Gabriella Quintero, Miami University
I work for the Transportation Security Administration as a video editor. I am passionate about human experience and love being able to showcase that passion through visuals.
Julia Ran, DC EDGE
I work as an SAT English teacher for my local Chinese school, teaching a class of 30 students each Saturday. I volunteer for the Tacy Foundation, performing at live music concerts at nursing homes. I am a Special Olympics Rockville coach, coaching special-needs skaters to prepare them for competitions. I help with “Rise on Ice,” a nonprofit organization run by some of my teammates that aims to provide opportunities for any aspiring skaters. At school, I am vice president of “Books for Friends,” a club which authors and illustrates children's books before printing, distributing, and reading them at preschool, kindergarten and elementary schools in our area.
Sanna Joshi, Lexettes
Over the past two summers, I worked as a summer intern at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. During my time there, I observed and assisted senior scientists as they conducted research on multiple myeloma cells in their efforts to discover new drug therapies. Additionally, I volunteered at Winchester Hospital, where I helped deliver flowers to new mothers, assisted with patient discharges and supported other tasks to improve patient care. I have also contributed to various nonprofit organizations through my skating team. For instance, we partnered with Hope and Comfort, a nonprofit that provides essential hygiene products to youth and families in need, to help support its mission.
Allison Kim, Team Image
I am part of the Red Cross organization at my school and volunteer in an organization called EnoB, which is a nonprofit that reaches out to people who may be hospitalized, disabled, elderly, or suffer economically. EnoB spreads happiness to the community through music and live performances. Furthermore, I am working on a magazine based in Korea called Popopo to spread my love, experience, and journey of my skating career and life to audiences in Korea.
Taylor Olender, Haydenettes
Northeastern has a co-op program and I started a new job in January as a mechanical engineer.
