By Olga Bednarek.

Born November 22, 1973 in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and raised in Brampton, Cassie Campbell is probably best known as the recently retired captain of the Canadian women’s hockey team. As if being captain was not enough, at the past two winter Olympics the team managed to win the gold medal, first at Salt Lake City in 2002, and more recently at the 2006 winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. But this is not the only reason I see Cassie Campbell as a successful person.

Before becoming a member of Team Canada, Cassie played for a number of hockey teams, including the North York Aeros and the Mississauga Chiefs. She has also played for Canada in seven world championships and has served as the captain of the team for those and other international events. She has 32 goals and 63 assists in 149 games. Another fact that is often overlooked is that Team Canada won the silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics when she was playing as left winger. The fact that she was able to refine and improve her hockey skills to play at the elite, professional level is one of the main reasons that I think of her as successful.

Cassie is not all about hockey either. In the past she has also worked as a model and a sports commentator for TV and radio broadcasts. She holds an honours sociology degree from the University of Guelph, and

is also a spokesperson for the HIP program, which was established to prevent young girls from smoking. A worthy cause, and if ask me, anyone who works as an activist for what they believe in deserves a gold medal.

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Success to me is achieving your goals and being happy with yourself and what you have done. You do not necessarily have to be rich or famous, but if you feel you have accomplished what you want and are content with who you are, then you are a successful person.

© 2006 Olga Bednarek. All rights reserved.