For many, learning to row is an adventure that begins in either in high school or college during their formative adolescent years, or otherwise in adulthood at a club with other adults who have never tried the sport. Not so common is Theo Cielos' experience in rowing—in a college setting, as an adult woman.

Cielos is part of the Ada Comstock Scholars Program at Smith College, a program for non-traditional aged students who wish to pursue a bachelor's degree. Last fall, she uprooted herself and two of her children (three more are grown and live on their own) and moved to the Western Massachusetts town of Northampton, a far cry from her longtime home of Seattle, WA.

Can you tell me a little bit about how you found the rowing team at Smith?
About the second week I got to Smith, I decided I was going to squeeze out every last drop of the college experience. I didn't want to play Quidditch or a club sport. I wanted to play an NCAA sport. I couldn’t have walked on any of the other sports team. I used to watch the Social Network and I would see scullers out on Lake Washington in Seattle and I thought 'that looks so relaxing and nice.' Once I got in the boat I felt like 'I was made to be doing this sport!'

No other Ada Scholars are doing varsity sports. Everyone was asking me 'Are you crazy?'

Do you feel like you are getting a different college experience than the other Comstock Scholars?
I think there is some intermingling in class with collaborative efforts, but there is a different level of bonding on a team. That was part of what made me want to do rowing.

What was it like learning something completely new?
I'm kind of a perfectionist, so learning to row was frustrating. Coach KK (Karen Klinger) would tell me, 'I've been rowing for 30 years and still learning.' I have the mentality that I want to learn something and master it right away. Not being able to do that in rowing was a really good learning experience I am translating through my life.

What is it like balancing school, family and rowing?
When I'm on the water I don't have to think about the kids or cleaning or dinner—those things that grownups have to worry about on top of things that students have to worry about. Those thoughts don't go away for me at the gym, but once I am in the boat my brain just shuts off. This is a way to not feel so homesick.
How was your first race?
For my first race (in the Quinsigamond Snake Regatta in the fall) I was in the second novice boat, and I really struggled with wanting to ask why I was in that boat and I was a little frustrated after the race—it was a tough race. It was all brand new for everyone; the boat was all people like me who have never been in a boat.

Despite the frustration, the race was amazing and eye opening because it didn’t matter that I wasn’t in the best shape—we kept going. There was no way I was stopping or slowing down—I just wanted to go fast.

By the second race I had worked on my technique and was going in for coached sessions on the Swingulator, and I had moved up to the first novice boat.
What is it like being on a team with students who are about your children's age?
They're younger than most of my children! The benefits of being around more traditional students are great. I am able to be a mentor in other areas of life to my teammates as much as they are teaching me about rowing and school. They call me Momma T.