LAURA THOMPSON - SWIMMING (2009-13)
Degree: Bachelor of Arts 2014 (Major: Political Science, Minor: Economics)
Current Profession/Employer: The University of British Columbia, International Student Initiative Department
Thunderbird Alumni Council Representative for UBC Women's Swimming
LinkedIn:Â
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lthompson48
Why did you choose to study/play at UBC?
Academics: Ranking, reputation, over 241 major choices...UBC offered a broad selection of majors and bachelor programs which was attractive as I didn't know specifically what I wanted to study in high school. And the West Coast lifestyle was a big upgrade from the suburbs of Ontario.
Swim: Breaststroke program was world class, Hungarian breaststroke coach Jozsef Nagy arrived at UBC in 2007 and had quick success with T-Birds Annamay Pierse and Martha McCabe who dominated the Canadian and world breaststroke scene. My thought was if you want to be the best, join them!
Favorite T-Bird memory:Â
2012 U SPORTS double banner win. Both men and women won the titles and women set a record for most points scored.
Savannah King set a Canadian Record in the 400 freestyle, four of our teammates went on to making the 2012 London Olympic team one month later. Team won the du Vivier Team of the Year at Big Block. It was a special group of girls and a very special year. We still stay in touch and have had several Zoom catch-ups in the past few months!
Favorite place on campus:
Tower Beach or Great Dane Coffee shop (best scones on campus)!
What was your first job after graduation?
My first two jobs were contract roles: first I was the Head Coach of the Vancouver Vikings summer swim club followed by a Project Coordinator position in the Athletics and Recreation department.Â
Did you receive financial support as a student-athlete? If so, how did this impact your experience as a T-Bird?
Over my time as a student-athlete, I won numerous scholarships and awards through the swim program which significantly lightened the financial burden of school. Swimming is a very time-consuming sport, that requires 24+ hours a week of training - including in the water practices, weight sessions, and other dry-land sessions. On top of that we would be taking 4-5 classes a semester while trying to enjoy the unique student experience of our undergrads. Â
Other than coaching 1-2 hours a week, adding a part-time job to the equation just wasn't possible. Scholarships and awards allowed me to focus more on school and volunteering. Most notably, I volunteered and held leadership roles on the swim team as captain (2012-2014) and President of Thunderbird Athletes Council (2012-2014).Â
It was through my work as a leader in the athletics community where I learned many intangible soft skills that I still use today in my professional career. Being able to volunteer allowed me to build my network and brand which ultimately helped me get my first "grown-up" job in the UBC Athletics and Recreation department as a project coordinator.
What advice do you have for current student-athletes?
Use your varsity alumni networks. Reach out to alumni for informational interviews if the job/masters/professional program is something you might consider for yourself. We remember what it was like to be in your shoes and want to help you with your career transition. There are no dumb questions.
What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career?
Linear career paths are a thing of the past. Don't worry if your transition from sport to career is messy. Be aware there will be ups and downs in the process and take the time to reflect from every opportunity you have. It likely took 12-14 years to become a master of your sport, so prepare to go back to the early learning stages when you start in a career and try not to be hard on yourself.Â
Do you have a mentor? How have they influenced you?
Yes, a few. They have been a sounding board for any questions I have about the business world. My parents are both teachers and had a very linear career path. So, it can be nice to get perspective from other professionals who can help me navigate the sometimes intimidating world of business.Â
How have you used your varsity athletic experience in your current career/life?
As an international student recruiter for UBC I speak about my varsity experience on a very regular basis. Prospective applicants often have questions about what student life is like in which I find it personal to add my own story when I can in addition to my UBC branded messaging. I also use the time management skills learned through those early morning swim practices to balance my day-to-day life.
What are your books/movie suggestions?
- Book: Educated
- Movie: Parasite
What are your go-to songs and podcasts?
Podcasts: Big fan of NPR's How I Built This and Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert. Also found "The Drop Out" and "Believed" hard to turn off.
Can you share any new quarantine hobbies/goals?
I wish I could say I've mastered new hobbies like making sourdough or creating trending TikToks. Instead, I watched Breaking Bad start to finish. Impressive, I know. For goals, I recently got a wetsuit that I plan to use in the ocean. Whenever I build up my courage. I've also challenged myself to connect with friends through regular Zoom workouts to keep some normalcy and routine to these work from home days.
What question do you wish we had asked you?
How do you currently stay connected to your former T-Birds and if there was one "event" that you would come back to UBC for what would it be? ** Can be a current event or hypotheticalÂ
How can other alumni/student-athletes connect with you?
Email:
laura.thompson@ubc.ca
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