(Editor's note: Duke senior Georgia Schweitzer, the 1999-2000 ACC Player of the Year, will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.)

Nov. 21, 2000

What are you doing next year?

	Schweitzer

As a senior, that question seems to sneak into every conversation. While I hope to continue playing for a while longer, my long-term plans include medical school. Yes, I am a pre-med Dukie, but no, I do not have one of those four colored pens that simultaneously click in orgo lecture when the professor writes out a reaction (Duke inside joke about pre-meds and their "clicky" pens!).

Participating in athletics has given me many of the attributes expected of physicians. Discipline, mental toughness and the ability to think quickly and rely on my instincts are all skills I have acquired on the basketball court. Through shadowing Dr. Henry Friedman and Dr. Allan Friedman (not related) at Duke's Brain Tumor Center, I have witnessed much more personally how lessons from sports can lead to success.

On our basketball team, we constantly talk about teamwork, everyone playing her role for the common goal of victory. If anyone relaxes for just one second, the game could be lost. Dr. Henry Friedman believes this same approach works; he calls his staff and colleagues his team, his patients a part of this team against one common enemy.

Now, the stakes are higher, the pressure greater, and reliance and trust in one other is more crucial. While winning basketball games satisfies competitive spirit and instills confidence, esteem and pride in my teammates and I, winning at the Brain Tumor Center means saving a precious human life.

I have attentively listened to the analogies Dr. Henry Friedman tells patients. He told a young girl, not too far from my age, that she would, during the course of treatment, lose her hair, become fatigued, and might be able to go to school some days. He also told her that we were going to win.

I remained focused on the girl the entire speech, watching her face, her eyes, her body movements. I truly admire her for taking all the news in stride; she seemed so confident. Dr. Friedman briefly left the room, during which time I chatted with the girl and her mom. She adamantly declared to her Mom that she was not going to let any of this slow her down; she would fight and win. I love that attitude!

I believe we are going to win every game, I believe every team should believe they have a chance to win, or why play? Many patients come to Duke from around the world because they have been told that they cannot beat the disease. Dr. Friedman assures them that he will never give up, as the motto of the center is "At Duke, there is Hope." I have been witness to the confidence and revitalization of spirit in patients upon hearing Dr. Friedman's word; like Coach G implanting confidence in our mind, "we are winners."

This is not false hope or denial but realization that no one can predict what will happen, new drugs become available or the other team's star player has an off night. Believing in yourself with your whole heart, mind and soul bursts open limitless possibilities and makes you a winner.

Go Devils!