Becoming a student-athlete is the best decision I made once I graduated high-school. This article is for those who are showcasing their athletic and academic skills to University recruits, or to those athletes who have already committed to a University program.  I played soccer for Thompson RiversUniversity, a program that grew to become a leader in U-Sports, formally known as the CIS.

Before choosing to be a student-athlete at TRU, I toured several other universities and their athletic programs, I discussed my future with my friends, coaches, and family members.  Choosing to attend TRU was a perfect choice, the small class sizes, the professors are brilliant and accommodating, and the community supports both the school and athletics program.

Unlike the NCAA, the CIS is always student-athlete, never athlete -student. We do not create mass amounts of revenue and the University does not depend on sports income. We as athletes do not have the perceived superiority that athletics outweighs academics, for most, it is the opposite. My coaches demand grade updates and if a player was slacking, he would be reprimanded until his grades improved If I attended a school with larger class sizes and professors who treated students as a number instead of a student, I would have been lost with the course loads and managing sport.

TRU has branded their athletics department as the ‘Wolfpack’ the name speaks volumes for how the athletes are treated. The team atmosphere is built around support and equality. An inclusive atmosphere creates friendships that will last a lifetime, and TRU’s leadership plays a large part in the cultivation of these friendships. Playing for a program that supports and cheers for their athletes

Thompson Rivers University is in Kamloops, a town of 90,000. This means we are the only competitive soccer team in the town. We as athletes are active with numerous community events and act as leaders for the youth in Kamloops. Volunteering within the community gives us a sense of pride when we are recognized or can offer help.  Playing for a university in a city with less than one hundred thousand people gives the athletes a true sense of community and support.

Many of us will never become professional, and this is the highest level of sport we will ever play. Choosing the correct university that will facilitate both a person’s academic and athletic wants is vital to their happiness and success. Some schools are hyper-focused on athletic success and give an athlete slack when they perform poorly in the classroom, some are purely academic and offer no support for their athletic programs. But, TRU has created a perfect balance for the student-athlete. We are supported both in the classroom and on the field, choosing to play soccer for TRU has and always will be one of the best choices I could have ever made.