Staying
active can prove to be one of the hardest challenges in college. With
hectic class and extracurricular schedules (not to mention sleep and
social!), recreation might eventually fall to last place on the priority
list. However, it is UNC Campus Recreation’s mission to provide “a
diverse and intentional recreational program in a safe, inclusive, and
accessible environment which enhances the social, mental, and physical
well-being of the entire University community.”
Rising
senior Raven Jones has made recreation the center of her life at
Carolina. Not only does she play on the UNC Women’s Club Basketball
team, serve as president of Carolina Fitness Professionals Club and work
at the Student Recreation Center (SRC), but has also dedicated her academic
studies to Exercise and Sports Science (EXSS).
Her
love of the game started at the young age of three and continued
throughout high school on the varsity team. After spending her four high
school years dedicated to competitive basketball, it seemed only
natural for her to continue playing competitively at UNC. Thus far, her
experience with the club team has been incredible:
“Everything from my hilarious teammates both on the road and on the court to practicing hard during off season to winning together has really made my time on the team worthwhile.”
Her
passion for sports doesn’t stop with club ball, either. She also loves
her job working for Campus Recreation in the Facilities Department where
she is responsible for supervising Fetzer and Woollen gyms. She enjoys
getting to meet new people and seeing friends work out while still
staying connected with the EXSS department, which is conveniently just a few steps down the hall. Her job serves both an academic and social purpose; she can stop
by a professor’s office on her way out to ask a question or catch up
with friends at the gym. For Raven, this recreational community triples
as an academic, athletic and social place that houses all of her
interests in one central location.
As
an EXSS major, Raven sees her involvement with Campus Rec and her club
sport as the perfect way to personally interact with others who are as
deeply passionate about exercise and wellness as she is. After her four
years at Carolina, she plans either to attend graduate school for
Physical Therapy or work in community relations for a professional
sports team.
Playing
a club sport, being president of a health related club, working for
Campus Recreation and majoring in EXSS has given Raven exposure to all
sides of the sports world. Her Carolina experience not only steered her
in the direction of her professional future, but also gave her the means
to explore her passion and gain a deeper appreciation for it from all
angles.
Do
you love sports as much as Raven does? Explore Carolina’s recreational
avenues and envision yourself on a similar path. Check out UNC’s
athletic resources both for academics and for fun below!
UNC Campus Recreation - http://campusrec.unc.edu/
Exercise and Sports Science program - http://www.unc.edu/ugradbulletin/depts/ex_sportsci.html
