Kristen Carr, a 2010 graduate of the University of North Carolina, is currently an assistant women's lacrosse coach at Stanford University. Known as "Cookie" by her friends, Carr will line up on defense for Team USA at the Federation of International Lacrosse World Cup this summer in Guildford, England. We asked her about her inspiration to play for Team USA and what drives her.

Q: What inspired you to try out for Team USA?

A: Growing up, I played soccer (plus basketball and lacrosse) and had always looked up to the ’99ers, like Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm. I still remember where I was when they won the World Cup, and thought how incredible it must be to play at the highest level in the world and more importantly represent the U.S. on the international stage.

Q: What is something that most people don’t know about you?

I have played semiprofessional in two different sports. In the summer 2016, I played lacrosse for the Baltimore Ride in the United Women's Lacrosse League, and in the summer of 2010, I played soccer for the Chesapeake Charge. 

Q: What’s your favorite inspirational quote?

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle.

We become what we practice. If we are investing ourselves in something, we need to do so to the best of our ability. Even if we don’t know how to truly do a task at hand, we have to act how we want to be. So, if we want to be elite at anything, we need to practice excellence at all times.