Marlène
“To be a woman to me means that you have the opportunity to break through barriers, to set the bar higher and higher every day, to inspire, empower, and build a strong sense of belief in the next generations.”
Marlène is an accomplished professional athlete who has worked her way up the ranks, from the Canada U18 National team to Division I collegiate hockey, and now the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). She is tactical and goal-oriented, pursuing her passions whole-heartedly and without taking any shortcuts. Her achievements in this sport can be attributed to not only her work ethic, but her ability to see the bigger picture in any challenge; she understands and appreciates the little victories and sacrifices that are part of the journey. Her unshakable drive and optimistic outlook, both on and off the ice, have been a catalyst for her success and an inspiration for aspiring female athletes everywhere. Meet Marlène. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
M: My name is Marlène Boissonnault. I am a driven 24-year-old working hard at achieving her dreams. One of the most dedicated and hard working people you’ll ever meet. I play professional hockey with the PWHPA, I am making my way up the National Senior Women’s Ice Hockey team and planning on attending medical school in the next few years. I grew up in Northern New Brunswick, Canada and I am currently residing in Calgary, Alberta as I pursue my dreams.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
M: I believe so strongly in my goals and dreams that I dedicate every day to putting all that I can into achieving them. I recognize that sacrifices are a part of the process, but I embrace every step of the way, knowing that it’s all a part of the journey and making me better each and every day.
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
M: My favourite thing about myself is that I am optimistic (mixed with realistic). I always try to keep things positive and on the bright side even in the most difficult of times. I am not afraid of a challenge, knowing it’ll only make me stronger and better for it. I am someone who sets big goals for myself and who has big ambitions and lots of heart to achieve them. Between my drive and my positivity, I have come to realise that for me, it is the key to staying on path and making every day count.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
M: When I was in University (Cornell University) I had to undergo hip surgery. This was a very difficult situation, knowing that it would be a bump in the road. However, knowing how much it was slowing me down and impeding my game, I took confidence in knowing that it was the best option and that ultimately it would make me a better goaltender. Knowing that my hockey career was a big part of who I was and who I wanted to be, it became a quick decision to commit to the surgery and the recovery process.
To say that the recovery was easy would be a lie, however, what is not a lie is that it truly was the best decision I could have made. The months and couple of years following the surgery I had some catching up to do. However, big picture, and sitting where I am sitting today, I recognize that this was the best thing I could have ever done. This adversity has proven to me that I can overcome some of the hardest challenges. Additionally, this set back only showed me how much I really want to achieve my goals, how having forced time away from the game only made me want to compete even more and be hungrier for my dreams.
K: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
M: To stick to the process and to make every day count. Truly some of the best advice I have been given was that whatever you do, do it at the best of your capacity, give it your all. Because if you are already there, why not! If you have food in your fridge, whip something together, don’t order out. If you have a few minutes before bed and a book by your side, read. If you are in the gym and are lifting weights, dig deep in making the session count. If you have an exam coming up, commit to yourself and your studying to give yourself the best chance at being successful on your exam. Stick to a process and to the pride that yourself 5 years older would look back to and recognize.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
M: Being a woman to me means that you are fully capable of achieving whatever you set your heart out to. There is nothing that hard work and determination can’t get you. There is always some sort of positive outcome to true hard work and there will always be some learning opportunity to where you apply true determination. To be a woman to me means that you have the opportunity to break through barriers, to set the bar higher and higher every day, to inspire, empower, and build a strong sense of belief in the next generations. Being a professional athlete has provided me a platform where I get to contribute some piece of empowerment and motivation, something that I enjoy. Even if I get to put the smile on one young girls face, or motivate one little girl to fight for her dream of becoming whatever she wants, that truly is what makes me happy and what I strive to accomplish.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to them if they were here now?
M: One woman who inspires me each and every day is my mother. It’s hard not to get emotional when talking about my mother and the incredible woman she is. My mom is not afraid of fighting for what she believes, putting endless hours into her most precious goals and dreams, caring and loving her family infinitely. My mom is a stay-at-home mom of six kids, with me being the 4th – six kids born in six years. My mom selflessly has committed her life to our growth and success, waking up at all hours of the morning, staying up far past the sunset to make sure that we have access to her help and all that we could ever need. My mom has fully devoted all of her energy and self to our goals and dreams, disregarding her own, putting others (her family) in front of her.
For years, I had seen my mom as an incredible mom, a woman that is one of the kindest, most selfless, heartwarming, and loving people you’d ever meet. However, now, I see my mom as the most powerful woman, the greatest superhuman, and person with the biggest heart that you could ever imagine. To be able to truly dedicate yourself to your goals of being the best mother, mentor, friend, leader, person, is something that I find utmost inspiring about my mom. When I see people achieving their goals and I see the hours that go into it, I can’t help but to see my mom and see the commitments that she has put into her “village,” her family, in assuring that her greatest goal would flourish – to see her kids and husband be happy and healthy.
Marlène with her mom, Sylvie, and dad, Jacques.