A text away: Rachel Duer's focus on balance and thriving on relationships

The senior from Chapman serves as a pitcher for the Bethel softball team and as a student chaplain.

Rachel Duer, a senior on the Bethel College softball team as well as a member of the student chaplain team, has created connections, developed relationships, and made a difference since she first stepped on campus in the fall of 2019.

Rachel Duer — Photo via rachel.nicole25/Instagram

From the ability to balance her two roles to her goals for her senior season to the impact she hopes to leave on Bethel when she walks across the stage, I was able to get answers to some of my most pressing questions for Duer.

As a pitcher, Duer has been a member of the softball team during the entirety of her tenure at Bethel. The Chapman native says the Threshers’ softball program in its current state is drastically different than it was just a few months ago. “This team is different than what we’ve had,” she said. “The culture and dynamic of this team are special.” She adds that the team has high expectations for each other, which is pushing the group to achieve more than it ever has before.

For Duer’s senior season, she would love for her and the softball team to make it to the postseason — and play in the KCAC tournament for the first time in her career in North Newton. When speaking about the possibility of that happening, she seemed confident in the culture of this year’s team and asserted her belief in the heights this team can reach.

“The team we have this year has started to build a culture that we haven't had in the past,” Duer said. “Already, this year has been completely different from the past. We’re looking to turn some heads and put Bethel softball on the map.”

Through four games in 2023, Duer sports an ERA of 1.27 in 11 innings pitched.

Outside of the diamond, Duer is also a member of the student chaplain team. As described on the Bethel website, student chaplains “work with the campus pastor to monitor, support, and encourage the development of a vital and vibrant spiritual life on the Bethel campus.”

Obviously, from the outside, it appeared as though it would be a difficult task balancing both on top of classes. She confirms that she, too, held this concern, especially because it’s a challenge trying to make team meetings and student chaplain meetings as they fall on the same evening. Softball also plays every other Wednesday, causing her to miss chapel.

“I hope that when I leave, everybody still knows that I’m a text away.”

Rachel Duer

Although juggling her sport and the student chaplain responsibilities may have seemed like a challenge for her, Duer seemed to have everything under control with both.

“My time management skills have increased so much doing both of these things and helped teach me how to prioritize certain things,” Duer said. When speaking about the impact that she would like to leave on Bethel, Rachel stated, “love, compassion, kindness, and joy.” She added that] people that know her know that she thrives on the relationships she builds with others.

“I hope that when I leave, everybody still knows that I’m a text away.”