Mentoring for Athletes

My name is Catherine “Cat” Clark, and as a former Division 1 athlete at the University of Washington, I understand the unique challenges facing student-athletes and young people whose athletic careers have ended while they shift into the next chapters in their lives.

Making A Positive Difference In Athletes’ Lives

Beginning in the fall of 2006, I began mentoring young people. I have worked with many D-1 athletes, former Olympians, and professional athletes, including the NFL. I have also mentored students who have not had athletic careers as they make choices for their next chapters. This work includes supporting student-athletes who have not completed their degrees while they finish that work (no matter what their age), discussing potential future careers, goal setting and providing networking opportunities. I am extremely proud of all the people with whom I have worked as they have moved into successful careers as lawyers, coaches, financial advisers, inspirational speakers, parents, business owners and a variety of other roles. And, most of them have kept athletics in their lives by participating in triathlons, running events, swimming events, biking events, skiing, hiking, golf and a variety of other sports.

I accept that I will always have an athlete’s mind – it is something I cherish. I consider my athletic training to have been some of the best education I have received. It taught me the valuable skills of flexibility, adaptability, persistence, faith and the reward of hard and disciplined work. I believe that any person who has achieved any kind of athletic goal has such skills. These skills are easily transferrable to other chapters of people’s lives, whether they’re in the business, academic or political worlds or any other venues people choose. It is simply a matter of using them.

My Athletic Career

I swam for the Washington Huskies from 1981 to 1985. I was a four-year letter winner and a scholarship athlete and received academic honors as well. During my athletic career, I was primarily known as a butterflyer/backstroker and was profoundly awful at breaststroke (a circumstance that has not changed). I am very proud of these accomplishments, as in elementary, middle and high school, I was always picked last for every team sport involving a ball (I do not have great hand-eye coordination).

An Athlete’s Approach To The Law

Find out more about how my background in sports gives me an edge in the law. Contact my firm, The Law Office of Catherine C. Clark, PLLC, for a consultation. Call 206-590-2633 to reach my office in downtown Seattle.