When I pictured myself in college from a young age, I always thought I would be playing lacrosse. Collegiate lacrosse was my dream throughout middle and high school, but once I began to closely study my college schedule I was faced with a question: would I be able to balance it all? Would playing Division 1 lacrosse as a pre-med student be too much?
There are many amazing student-athletes at UNH who balance rigorous majors with D1 athletics; in fact, I have met many in my classes. However, I decided that the best path for me was to pursue other extracurriculars that left me with more time to focus on my academic work.
Every year at the beginning of the fall semester, UNH hosts U-Day, an event filled with tables for every student organization on campus. When I found a table for the women’s club lacrosse team, I was ecstatic at the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love. I talked to the girls behind the table and received information about the team and tryouts. I started running every day, preparing for my opportunity to make the team.
After three days of stressful tryouts, I was so excited to learn that I had made the team (you can find me in the picture above. I’m #3)! At our first practice, I met all of my teammates and quickly realized that I had found my crowd. Many of the girls had similar stories to me and were equally dedicated to our team. We practiced twice a week during the year, which was a welcome escape from classes and homework. We would often go to the dining hall together after practice, and I loved filling an entire table with teammates before we all walked home to our dorms, ready to attack homework and wait for the next time we were out on the field.
As the spring season approached, we trained to compete with teams in our area. We traveled to and hosted 11 games against the University of Massachusetts, the University of Maine, Harvard, Providence College, St. Anselm and more. During my freshman year, we earned a place in the US Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA) National Championship. Some of my fondest college memories so far include boarding our flight, checking into our hotel and playing teams from all around the country in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We placed sixth in the country and earned the Keepers of Lacrosse Award for sportsmanship.
My favorite aspect of UNH is the opportunities it holds. While I love being a member of the club lacrosse team, I also love how my friends dive into intramural sports, skiing, academic clubs, community service and more to complement their time at UNH. With over 200 student organizations, chances are high you’ll find whatever path you want to take at UNH.
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