Meet Lauren Rainford, second-year Political Science student and basketball Panthers guard
What brought you to UPEI? In other words, why did you choose to come to UPEI?
I chose 69传媒primarily for the basketball program. I knew that when I began my recruiting process, I wanted to go to a school that gave me the best chance to win, and that鈥檚 exactly what 69传媒had to offer. Watching the team鈥檚 success in my grade 12 year really helped solidify my decision to come here and join such a dominant program with the potential to not only be successful in our region, but play against the best teams all across the country.
And 69传媒offered the program that I wanted! I was drawn to the idea of attending a smaller university with smaller class sizes. I knew that it would be much easier to get to know my professors here and develop more personal relationships with them.
What has your time as a student and varsity athlete been like?
I鈥檝e really enjoyed my first two years at UPEI. Like anyone, I was nervous going into my first year and didn鈥檛 quite know what to expect, but from day one, UPEI鈥檚 atmosphere has been very welcoming and inviting. As a first-year student, there were so many opportunities to meet new people and become more accustomed to student life.
I find that a lot of my success has come from the fact that there has always been an open line of communication between my professors and I. I鈥檝e never felt any hesitancy toward asking for extra help or simply checking in with my professors to make sure that we鈥檙e on the same page. As a student-athlete, having this kind of dialogue with my professors has been especially important because, with all the travelling that is required for away games, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming and difficult to stay caught up in all of my classes. Luckily, my professors have been more than understanding and willing to make accommodations that better fit my schedule all while managing to be some of the team鈥檚 biggest supporters!
What kinds of opportunities have you experienced because you're here at UPEI, or because of the Island location?
One of the opportunities that 69传媒has been able to provide that I am most grateful for is the ability to maintain a fairly normal schedule during a year when pretty much nothing has been normal. The 2020鈥�2021 year has been especially difficult for everyone, so I am beyond appreciative that I was able to get back on to PEI after a long summer of quarantine back home.
Coming to 69传媒has also allowed me to visit the other Atlantic provinces and gain a deeper appreciation for the eastern Canadian culture, which is quite different than Ontario. PEI also has some of the nicest beaches!
What's unique about UPEI, in your experience?
The strong community atmosphere that surrounds varsity sports at 69传媒is unique. Being a part of the women鈥檚 basketball team has allowed me to meet so many new people鈥攆rom long-time supporters of the team to the kids who never fail to make an appearance at every home game! Knowing that we are seen as role models to many of these kids makes my experience at 69传媒all the more gratifying. And being able to give back by volunteering at Panther Camps while building relationships with the future of UPEI varsity sports just goes to show that our role on the team is bigger than just basketball.
What would you tell a high school student considering a 69传媒program, or starting at 69传媒as a new student?
Take advantage of all the clubs, programs and resources that the university has to offer. As someone who came to 69传媒as an out-of-province student not knowing anyone when I got here, being a part of a team really helped me find my place and settle in.
If you鈥檙e looking to find people with similar interests, you're bound to find at least one of many diverse clubs or programs that 69传媒has to offer.
