There are a pair of contrasting snapshots that explain so much about the well-roundedness of Rebecca Skoler and provide you ample reason to respect the way in which she embraces her world.

One was a visit to a prison, part of a high school class – Theories of Justice – that made a massive impact on her. The prisoners she met, some of them serving time for murder, did not frighten her; instead, their stories made her think.

Another is from the tail end of her sophomore year at the University of Virginia, a time when the game she loved was a struggle and her spot in the lineup was difficult to secure. In those days, “I was afraid to play golf,” said Skoler.

Afraid to play golf but not afraid to visit that prison? Curious and conflicting, it might appear. Only to study Rebecca Skoler is to discover a young woman who lives up to both ends of her commitment – she’s both a remarkable “student” and determined “athlete” – and her fears and strengths are consistent with the reverent woman she is.

^ ^ ^

The way in which Skoler won the Massachusetts Women’s State Amateur last Friday – with a series of up-and-downs, especially over her final eight holes – was met with a reactions that tell different stories.

“She’s so unflappable,” said her father/caddie Michael.

“That’s my game,” said Skoler with a laugh. But then she quickly explained that her short game has had to carry her much of the last year or so because “my ball-striking has been a struggle.”

It opened the door to a discussion about golf, a game that has brought Skoler much joy and success – besides the State Amateur she won State Junior titles in 2018 and ’20, recorded an AJGA win, and is now playing at a prestigious university – which is when you discover that she has a firm grasp on perspective.

Take the fact that after redshirting her freshman year because of a wrist injury, Skoler was in and out of the lineup for Virginia her sophomore and junior seasons.

It is never a fun position to be in, competing mid-week with your teammates for those coveted spots in a five-player lineup and you could say that the hideous portal has created a messy NCAA landscape. Players in all sports are using the portal to jump from program to program, sometimes to their advantage, but often to their detriment.

“When you don’t travel, it sucks,” said Skoler, but never has she been anything but 100 percent committed to where she is.

“I love the University of Virginia more than I could have imagined,” she said. “There are many factors why I would have no desire to leave. I love my team and my coaches and if I were to go somewhere just to play, then I wouldn’t be golf-motivated.

“As it is now, I embrace the challenge and I love playing for that spot (on the team).”

Her sentiments are the byproduct of something truly refreshing – Skoler puts the emphasis on the front end of “student-athlete.” As much as she possesses a true passion for golf and has spent countless hours honing her game, Skoler is emphatic that “I want to figure out who I am outside of golf.”

Enrolled in UVA’s esteemed Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Skoler is passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice reform. She is president of UVA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council and has received two of the university’s most prestigious prizes – the Student-Athlete Scholarship Award and the Gray-Carrington Scholarship Award, which recognizes a student leader who embodies the university’s ideals.

“I know what makes me happy and what I’m passionate about,” said Skoler, asked how she balances her love of academics, leadership roles, and golf.

So, yes, golf is still a huge deal to her, though Skoler has a grip on reality. There is no LPGA dream here. “I haven’t proven to myself that I’m good enough to make it there,” she said. “It’s hard enough for student-athletes to figure out their identity.”

Against the backdrop of these challenging midweek team qualifiers, let the record show that Skoler has carved out some highlights that are a credit to her talent and to her character.

Most notably there was the deciding match in last year’s ACC semifinals against top-seeded Wake Forest. With the score, 2-2, it came down to Skoler and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra. There was a crucial birdie at the 15th to put Skoler in the lead and with the final green surrounded by teammates, she finished off a 1-up win with a gut-check putt.

“I was so relieved, having been so nervous,” said Skoler. “I think Carolina was ranked 20th in the world and all I could see were my teammates. I proved a lot to myself.”

That Skoler’s winning putt UVA in the ACC finals and qualified her team for the NCAA Championships is something to be proud of. That her game “has twice peaked in the spring” and helped her get two appearances in the NCAAs (UVA was 15th in 2021-22) is somewhat baffling to her, but Skoler won’t bemoan her choppy fall seasons in ’21 and ’22.

She takes ownership “if I’m not playing good golf,” and forever she falls back on a true strength – the ability to see what's important in life through a clear lens.

“It’s hard to find perspective,” said Skoler. “But it’s easy to lose it.”

Hers can never be lost and, in fact, it gets an infusion each and every time she thinks of her mentor -- her mother, Jennifer. Last spring, Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer and soon thereafter had surgery and underwent chemotherapy.

“I’m a pretty positive person,” said Jennifer, who conceded that it was important for her to show her daughters (Rebecca and Samantha, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin) that everything was going to be all right.

The Massachusetts Women’s State Amateur victory was the first time Jennifer had the chance to watch Rebecca play since her surgery. “I really want to support her because it's taken a lot of grit for her to get here,” said Jennifer.

“I’m proud of her for so many reasons.”

Beautiful words, but if we sense an echo, it's for a good reason. Rebecca would say the same thing about Jennifer.

Perspective runs in the family.