Spotlight On: Kirsten Shaughnessy

“The biggest reward that I’ve received in my life is that after running Future Stars for 36 years is that, I’ve come into the second generation of campers. Parents that attended are now sending their kids to the camp, because they love Future Stars and they fondly remember their experiences.”—Charlie VanDercook

Meet Kirsten Shaughnessy, Office Manager, Purchase College.

What was your most memorable 2017 winter moment?

Kirsten:  In the winter I spend my time away from the office on the ice coaching my U12 girls’ hockey team for the Greenwich Panthers. We are a U10/U12 combined team, so this season has been a learning experience for everyone involved! With a wide range of ages and skill levels, this season will be one of my most memorable. From day one each of the players has improved greatly which is amazing to watch as much as it is to be in that position. This season has given me one of the proudest hockey moments of my 7 years as a coach and 19 years as a player.

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

Kirsten:  Being able to wear my Birkenstocks all summer long.

What are your hobbies?

Kirsten:  I have lots of hobbies and they include: hanging out with my dog and cat, Olive and Ginny, cutting hair, I cut my own hair, and sometimes cut my friend Matthew’s (no complaints yet!), playing PlayStation, road trips, going home to see family (I have a niece joining the family soon!), playing hockey, no more college hockey but I do get out on the ice with a couple men’s leagues in the area, playing tennis, mostly against my cousin Dahminik who came and lived with me last summer but now he’s back in Minnesota, so, for now, I just teach kids in Armonk, Rye Brook, and Port Chester, listening to My Favorite Murder Podcast, calling my grandma, building things, most recently, I built Ginny her very own apartment in the house so now she has a place to call her own (it even has a nameplate ‘Ginny’s Place’).

What is your favorite memory from camp?

Kirsten: My favorite memory from camp is always the carnival, being able to get out of the office and enjoy my day outside is always the best!

Which part of your job do you enjoy the most?

Kirsten:  The best part about my job is being able to see what I can do. I am very versatile in the office and have to handle multiple things at once. I didn’t see myself in a job like this growing up so being able to see my growth in the position in just a few short years makes me enjoy myself and who I am more.

What song do you play most often?

Kirsten:  Florence & the Machine! I couldn’t narrow it down to a single song because everything they sing is magical and really touches every part of you. I even have a tattoo of the lyrics from ‘Ship to Wreck’ so I’m really into them.

Which exercise do you enjoy the most?

Kirsten:  I’m not big on exercise, but when I do I would have to say it has to be in a game. I will go out and play any sport, I was a 2-sport athlete in college, and working out was the main component in my every day until a shoulder injury. When I do hit the gym, I love the TRX, it’s tough but you feel the work you put into it the next day! The best workout for me though is just getting out on that ice or court and putting all you have into the game.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Kirsten:  Chocolate cake. I have a huge sweet tooth, so I love all things candy but my number one would have to be chocolate cake, homemade or the fancy lava kind at restaurants doesn’t matter to me I’ll eat it. I would have to say a close second would be my mom’s tater tot hot dish, probably the only thing she knew how to cook growing up, but it was always the best!

What kind of movies do you enjoy?

Kirsten:  When I was in high school, I used to work at a small movie theater that has now been torn down, but movies have always been a staple through all stages of my life. I will watch any movie, it’s too hard to narrow down a single movie or genre because I just love all that goes into it. In college, I took a lot of film classes because I like the technicality behind the scenes. It is very underappreciated because all we as viewers critic is the final product, not the tireless hours that went into making that hour and a half long film.

What’s your favorite outdoor activity/indoor activity?

Kirsten:  My favorite thing to do outdoors is to go to the dog park or on walks with my dog, Olive. She is my world and we do everything together, so really anything that involves getting out of the house and spending time together is the best. We often go on road trips back home to Minnesota, she loves staying in hotels and being able to run free in the fields. I am so happy watching her when she’s free to be herself outside of city life.

What is your favorite quote?

Kirsten:  “It’s the magic of risking everything for a dream nobody sees but you.” - -Million Dollar Baby