Rowing in Color: First All Black Women's Eight

My name is Baylor Henry and I'm an athlete for Drexel Women's Rowing! I'm a sophomore majoring in marketing with a minor in graphic design. I've had the awesome opportunity this past October to compete at Head of the Charles in the first all black Women's Eight in Boston.

As a black female athlete, representation and diversity matters. My own personal hardships and experience in the past led me to take a step further to start an Instagram page called Black Girls Row. I uplift and highlight other successful black female athletes in the sport of rowing while also bringing the audience into my own experiences as a Drexel athlete.

The relationships I've built and those who have committed to witnessing my journey have inspired me beyond athletics and academics to work toward the young woman I strive to become.

Head of the Charles is the largest regatta in the United States, so when Rowing in Color asked me to join their crew, I knew it would be a very special moment for so many people other than myself. This achievement of making history was a moment I never knew would be part of my story. If someone told me three years ago, a time of so much uncertainty, that I would be on the Drexel Women's Rowing Team, have the opportunity to row on the Charles River, meet and row with ladies from prestigious schools and the Olympics, AND get to connect with followers on Instagram, I wouldn't have believed them!

So for me, my experience so far at Drexel and Drexel Athletics has helped me transition from identifying only as a student-athlete to also being a leader within my community. I've been able to grow my leadership skills with the DLA (Dragon Leadership Academy) and actively use them in the classroom or with teammates. The relationships I've built and those who have committed to witnessing my journey have inspired me beyond athletics and academics to work toward the young woman I strive to become. Drexel has been a wonderful experience so far and I believe the same for you. 

Go Dragons!