The Mount's own lucky charm: Leah Westbrooks
Maya Brown
Issue date: 3/17/10 Section: Life
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But there's one Mountie on campus who isn't pretending-junior, Leah Westbrooks.
Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Westbrooks plays for the Mount women's basketball team and knows the right way to celebrate the holiday.
"St. Patrick's Day is obviously a big deal back at home. It's our national holiday. There is no school, and everybody gets off work," Westbrooks said about how true Irishmen celebrate back in Dublin. There are huge festivals and parades that go on all day in celebration.
Westbrooks is proud of her heritage and the impact that Ireland has had, being such a small country, on big cities in the States. "I think its brilliant how big of a deal it is here in the States," Westbrooks states. "It's deadly [which means 'great'] seeing big cities like Chicago throwing big parades and even dying rivers green."
Aside from freshman year, where she got a chance to celebrate at home, Westbrooks has had to witness the festivities on campus that begin early in the morning and end well into the night.
"I love the way the students celebrate here at the Mount, it cracks me up," she said about seeing the entire campus turn green.
Just as the Fourth of July brings about a sense of patriotism, St. Patrick's Day does the same for Westbrooks; especially since she is so far away from home. "I'm really proud to call myself Irish and actually, living away from Ireland I think I claim the fact more than ever."
Going home often isn't an option for Westbrooks either; since basketball season gets pretty busy she only gets a chance to go home over the Easter break.
Since it is far too expensive to visit mom and dad every weekend, Westbrooks has to rely on the friends she made at the Mount.
"My friends here at the Mount really helped me get over my homesickness and they are honestly one of the main reasons I am here. I have been so blessed and surrounded with quality people and genuine friends here at the Mount and they are why I call the Mount my home away from home."
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