Name: Shanice Marcelle
Degree & Year: Bachelor of Kinesiology (2013)
Thunderbird Sport & Years Played: Women's Volleyball 2008-2013, 5-time national champion, part of the legendary six consecutive championship titles.

Current Profession/Employer: Professional athlete and Coach
Website: https://www.shanicemarcelle.com 
Twitter: ShaniceM, Instagram: ShaniceM

Why did you choose to play at UBC? 
I was heavily recruited to play in the NCAA, but I wanted to stay close to home in a highly competitive program while being able to pursue a quality education within Canada and found exactly that in the UBC program.

Why did you choose your program of study at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I wasn't sure what I wanted to pursue as a career, but I had profound interest in athletics and Kinesiology seemed to be a program that focused in that realm. As I got further along in the program I developed a love for education (coaching/teaching) and interacting with others. My favourite prof would be Gail Wilson, and I thoroughly enjoyed her Kin 415 course about approaches to games education.

How does your degree/major apply to your job? 
I'm currently still a National team athlete and have a great understanding of my body and it's needs through some of the courses that I took during my time at UBC as well as approaches to training and the mechanics involved in technical skills. I'm also a University assistant coach, and high school coach so I'm able to bring my knowledge of the sport to teaching younger athletes through drills, and games which a lot of that foundational learning came from my degree.

Favourite T-Bird memory: 
There's too many to choose from, but some of my favourites would be my Senior's night, winning the National Championship in my 5th year, and winning the Canada West title at War Memorial Gym in my fourth year in front of a boisterous crowd against our cross-town rivals Trinity Western.

Favourite place on campus: 
The Delly in the old SUB. I haven't been to campus in so long but I know it has drastically changed.

Did you receive financial support as a student-athlete? If so, how did this impact your experience as a T-Bird? 
I did! And this was beyond helpful as I came from a single parent household and didn't necessarily have the ability to fully fund myself through school. If I didn't receive financial support I don't know if I would have pursued an education and athletic career at UBC and ultimately have gotten to where I am today.

What advice do you have for current student-athletes? 
Take the time to enjoy and appreciate every part of your University experience (or life in general). Not everything is going to be easy, you're going to be challenged more than once, but it is the opportunity of a lifetime to experience being a varsity athlete with teammates and other athletes and staff who share similar goals, dreams and aspirations. Enjoy it for what it is and don't be afraid to try new things during this time.

Do you have a mentor?  How have they influenced you?
I've had quite a few mentors over the years who have been instrumental in providing guidance when I have doubted myself and have been an incredible wealth of knowledge. In my coaching career now I can see a lot of the habits and traits that I have picked up through my mentors and have always felt encouraged to grow and pursue more or what's next from them.

How and where do you find inspiration? 
I think you can find inspiration through the challenges that you face and overcome. Since graduating University I have faced an incredibly bumpy road, but I have a wonderful support system to help keep me on track and have helped me to always see the positives. As an athlete and coach now I often find myself gaining a lot of my inspiration through having an impact on younger athletes whether that's through coaching or mentorship or simply being there for someone who is struggling and that wants me to push my boundaries to inspire others to see just how far they can go. As a biracial athlete and coach I know how important my presence is for my community and I enjoy being that visible figure that I never had growing up for young girls who looks like me.

How can other alumni/student-athletes connect with you? 
Feel free to connect with me through my social media channels on Instagram or Twitter, and connect with me on LinkedIn!