Using Her Homefield Advantage: Marina Mendez
11/19/2020 11:09:00 AM | Women's Golf, Student Athlete, Features, Flight 45, Intellectual Development
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
When sophomore Marina Mendez heard about the Homefield Advantage program, the allure of working on an entrepreneurial project that could create value for the community was all the motivation she needed.
"I was very involved in the community when I was at The Hill School," said Mendez, a native of Burgos, Spain and member of Lehigh's women's golf team. "I thought the Homefield Advantage program would give me that opportunity to help the community, while also helping me build many other skills I could use throughout my life."
Homefield Advantage is a new partnership between Lehigh Athletics and The Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation. The goal for the 18 student-athletes in the eight-week program is to create ways for more people to experience the advantages of secure living conditions.
More specifically, student-athletes are being challenged to develop entrepreneurial solutions for affordable, sustainable, accessible housing by applying innovation and creativity techniques they are learning in the weekly workshops with the Baker Institute team.
The 18 student-athletes, who had to apply for acceptance into the program, were split into three groups; Mendez's group has been focusing on the home ownership continuum.
"We want to start by implementing tiny house models," she said. "Our team has been thinking about designating an area in every city or community for tiny homes for people to live, while also putting them on the path to home ownership."
In other words, the goal is to help kick start the home ownership process.
"Maybe rent is too high and they're just barely getting by and not having enough to actually start the process of owning a home," said Mendez. "Our idea, and goal, is to create this alternative option, tiny homes, until they're in a stable financial situation and can take the next step."
Mendez is in the IBE (Integrated Business and Engineering) program, but is applying entrepreneurial thinking well beyond the business concept.
"We did an exercise to highlight entrepreneurial thinking," she said. "We got a normal water bottle, then each had to give it a characteristic or feature. Everyone kept adding different features to it, without repeating any features. It got so crazy. In our exercise, the water bottle followed you (without having to carry it), refilled automatically and all this crazy stuff.
"That's the entrepreneurial mindset," Mendez continued. "Creating this crazy idea which might not be possible, but being able to scale it down to something that could actually happen. That's what Chris (Kauzmann) and Lisa (Getzler) from The Baker Institute have been trying to drill into our heads.
"Yes, an idea might seem crazy, but we can scale it down to something doable."
The 18 student-athletes in the program come from all different majors and backgrounds, creating a strong team environment (much like within an athletics team).
"There are so many different views, and the diversity brings whole different perspectives to the group," said Mendez. "I believe that's why we've been so successful with generating new ideas."
That diversity has allowed for optimal learning opportunities, which is what Homefield Advantage is all about. The primary goals of the program are twofold. Provide an environment for growth in absence of fall competition, and hopefully the byproducts of the learning and growing are some tangible solutions that might increase opportunities for equitable access to safe, secure, affordable housing options.
It's much like a sports season, where teams focus primarily on the process of improving. If that happens, it usually leads to more wins in the standings and tangible success.
And like a sports team, Mendez and her group began with basics to help set a foundation.
"We had an amazing guest speaker who gave us very important perspective on community needs," she said. "And as a group, we started brainstorming, remembering no idea is too crazy."
That concept (no idea is too crazy) can be applied to athletics as well, specifically goal setting. It's better to shoot for the stars then work back towards a more reasonable goal instead of aiming too low.
"In golf, my goal can be shooting below par," said Mendez. "It might not seem attainable at the moment, but it's important to still work towards that goal. Maybe you won't get there, but you'll know you've done everything you can and might get close."
Student-athletes thrive on competition, and that internal drive to reach a goal. With no fall seasons, Mendez and her peers in the program will have a chance to compete in a different way. The three teams will have a virtual competition tonight, Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Zoom (click here to learn more).
"This is such a different way to compete," said Mendez. "It's been awesome to have that motivation of trying to do our best to win and maybe our idea can be implemented into the community."
Speaking of motivation, Mendez is (no surprise) a very intrinsically-motivated person, which she believes stems from her family.
"I'm from Spain, but went to boarding school at The Hill School, which is where my dad and brother went," she said. "I've grown up in an environment where I've been pushed to be my best at all times."
With Homefield Advantage in particular, Mendez is motivated by the chance to make a difference.
"Our work could end up helping people," she said. "This program also allows me to learn new things. Whether it's Homefield Advantage or golf, I want to be my best self so the people around me can be their best selves.
"It ties into the Better Me, Better We mentality."
Student-athletes and entrepreneurs are a natural fit.
"Athletes are experienced in making quick decisions," said Mendez. "And whether it was the right or wrong decision, you learn from it. Maybe you chose the wrong idea, but you think about it, reflect on it and go back and try a different idea.
"That's definitely a skill we've all learned from athletics and are implementing into this program."
Another skill from athletics is working with a team.
"I believe part of my leadership role within a group is making others feel comfortable," said Mendez.
No matter how the final competition goes, Homefield Advantage has been a win for Mendez in so many ways.
"All the steps behind getting to an idea are concepts I'll use in my life moving forward," she said. "I'm also more aware of our community and what's going on – not only in Bethlehem, but also Allentown. There are a lot of different issues and challenges that have been brought up, which I wasn't previously aware of or exposed to. I've also met new athletes I didn't know before.
"I'm so grateful to be part of this program."
When sophomore Marina Mendez heard about the Homefield Advantage program, the allure of working on an entrepreneurial project that could create value for the community was all the motivation she needed.
"I was very involved in the community when I was at The Hill School," said Mendez, a native of Burgos, Spain and member of Lehigh's women's golf team. "I thought the Homefield Advantage program would give me that opportunity to help the community, while also helping me build many other skills I could use throughout my life."
Homefield Advantage is a new partnership between Lehigh Athletics and The Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation. The goal for the 18 student-athletes in the eight-week program is to create ways for more people to experience the advantages of secure living conditions.
More specifically, student-athletes are being challenged to develop entrepreneurial solutions for affordable, sustainable, accessible housing by applying innovation and creativity techniques they are learning in the weekly workshops with the Baker Institute team.
The 18 student-athletes, who had to apply for acceptance into the program, were split into three groups; Mendez's group has been focusing on the home ownership continuum.
"We want to start by implementing tiny house models," she said. "Our team has been thinking about designating an area in every city or community for tiny homes for people to live, while also putting them on the path to home ownership."
In other words, the goal is to help kick start the home ownership process.
"Maybe rent is too high and they're just barely getting by and not having enough to actually start the process of owning a home," said Mendez. "Our idea, and goal, is to create this alternative option, tiny homes, until they're in a stable financial situation and can take the next step."
Mendez is in the IBE (Integrated Business and Engineering) program, but is applying entrepreneurial thinking well beyond the business concept.
"We did an exercise to highlight entrepreneurial thinking," she said. "We got a normal water bottle, then each had to give it a characteristic or feature. Everyone kept adding different features to it, without repeating any features. It got so crazy. In our exercise, the water bottle followed you (without having to carry it), refilled automatically and all this crazy stuff.
"That's the entrepreneurial mindset," Mendez continued. "Creating this crazy idea which might not be possible, but being able to scale it down to something that could actually happen. That's what Chris (Kauzmann) and Lisa (Getzler) from The Baker Institute have been trying to drill into our heads.
"Yes, an idea might seem crazy, but we can scale it down to something doable."
The 18 student-athletes in the program come from all different majors and backgrounds, creating a strong team environment (much like within an athletics team).
"There are so many different views, and the diversity brings whole different perspectives to the group," said Mendez. "I believe that's why we've been so successful with generating new ideas."
That diversity has allowed for optimal learning opportunities, which is what Homefield Advantage is all about. The primary goals of the program are twofold. Provide an environment for growth in absence of fall competition, and hopefully the byproducts of the learning and growing are some tangible solutions that might increase opportunities for equitable access to safe, secure, affordable housing options.
It's much like a sports season, where teams focus primarily on the process of improving. If that happens, it usually leads to more wins in the standings and tangible success.
And like a sports team, Mendez and her group began with basics to help set a foundation.
"We had an amazing guest speaker who gave us very important perspective on community needs," she said. "And as a group, we started brainstorming, remembering no idea is too crazy."
That concept (no idea is too crazy) can be applied to athletics as well, specifically goal setting. It's better to shoot for the stars then work back towards a more reasonable goal instead of aiming too low.
"In golf, my goal can be shooting below par," said Mendez. "It might not seem attainable at the moment, but it's important to still work towards that goal. Maybe you won't get there, but you'll know you've done everything you can and might get close."
Student-athletes thrive on competition, and that internal drive to reach a goal. With no fall seasons, Mendez and her peers in the program will have a chance to compete in a different way. The three teams will have a virtual competition tonight, Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Zoom (click here to learn more).
"This is such a different way to compete," said Mendez. "It's been awesome to have that motivation of trying to do our best to win and maybe our idea can be implemented into the community."
Speaking of motivation, Mendez is (no surprise) a very intrinsically-motivated person, which she believes stems from her family.
"I'm from Spain, but went to boarding school at The Hill School, which is where my dad and brother went," she said. "I've grown up in an environment where I've been pushed to be my best at all times."
With Homefield Advantage in particular, Mendez is motivated by the chance to make a difference.
"Our work could end up helping people," she said. "This program also allows me to learn new things. Whether it's Homefield Advantage or golf, I want to be my best self so the people around me can be their best selves.
"It ties into the Better Me, Better We mentality."
Student-athletes and entrepreneurs are a natural fit.
"Athletes are experienced in making quick decisions," said Mendez. "And whether it was the right or wrong decision, you learn from it. Maybe you chose the wrong idea, but you think about it, reflect on it and go back and try a different idea.
"That's definitely a skill we've all learned from athletics and are implementing into this program."
Another skill from athletics is working with a team.
"I believe part of my leadership role within a group is making others feel comfortable," said Mendez.
No matter how the final competition goes, Homefield Advantage has been a win for Mendez in so many ways.
"All the steps behind getting to an idea are concepts I'll use in my life moving forward," she said. "I'm also more aware of our community and what's going on – not only in Bethlehem, but also Allentown. There are a lot of different issues and challenges that have been brought up, which I wasn't previously aware of or exposed to. I've also met new athletes I didn't know before.
"I'm so grateful to be part of this program."
Players Mentioned
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