Being a varsity athlete is a dream come true. Representing my school as well as my team is something special and I will cherish it forever. It has also allowed me to expand and meet other female athletes that are truly inspiring. Being a female athlete is empowering.

Being a varsity athlete allows me to be a role model for all the young girls that attend our games. We are able to show them that it doesn’t matter your gender or background, but with dedication and a hard work ethic, you can be successful in sport.

Being a varsity athlete has allowed me to proudly represent my school. Varsity athletics has been a channel to develop strong relationships and lasting friendships. My participation on the Laurier lacrosse team has been a tool in providing indispensable life skills.

Being a varsity athlete allows me to express my love and passion for the game. It is also a platform for me to inspire young women of colour to follow their dreams.

Being a female varsity athlete has allowed me to develop the confidence to accomplish my goals on and off the court. It has given me the strength to know I can and I will.

I'm grateful for this experience, it changed my life in so many ways. Being a varsity athlete is a privilege in itself. It gives me the opportunity to play the sport that I love, get a great education, be inspired by other athletes, and inspire future athletes. Especially being a woman, there can be so much bias, but I just think it is so uplifting to see so many amazing female players motivate one another, it really does break down barriers.

I believe that being a varsity athlete has given me the opportunity to grow in every aspect of my life and provided me with the motivation to continue with sports even after graduating. I also have the opportunity to inspire and be a voice for younger female athletes.

Being a varsity athlete means a lot of things. It means being a part of a community/support group/social network made up of really wonderful ladies (and men because we all train and hang out together). It's a stress reliever, mind clearer, and motivator. It is learning about physical health, exercise, nutrition, mental health and mental strength/performance, setting goals, and learning how to overcome personal challenges. It's learning how to manage your time and finding that balance. And while balancing it all along with academics can feel overwhelming at times, I know I'm learning so much about myself that will carry with me into other aspects of my life beyond university. It is extremely rewarding. Finally, being a female varsity athlete in Nordic Skiing in particular, to me is incredibly inspiring and I'm so happy to be a part of it.

To me, being a varsity athlete means being given the opportunity to empower other women and girls around me. I believe that the more female leaders there are in sport, the more likely we will be able to convince young female athletes that they can achieve anything they put their mind to.

Being a female varsity athlete means everything to me. The reason I chose to participate in varsity sport, is that it’s a place where women can come compete at a high level and show their strength and determination. I admire all the women who are pursuing their goals in a varsity sport. They may not realize it at the time, but they are inspiring other women around them to stay active and persevere through any challenge life throws at them. My hope as a varsity athlete is that we actively engage women and young girls to stay passionate and determined as leaders in sport and in life. As a varsity athlete at Trent University, who is striving to become a teacher, it is important to me to promote and mentor women in sport and have a lot more females represented, so that young girls know that anything is possible.