volunteer coach, desire to help others

Rachel Hobson is a senior kinesiology major from Longmont, Colo.

I have three sisters, a step-sister and two step-brothers. I am the third youngest of the bunch.

I am a member of the ULM Women's Soccer Team, the Association of Students in Kinesiology, and the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. I do not have a job, but I volunteer coach for a team in town.

My future professional goals include coaching soccer because I love the game and cannot imagine my life without it. I want to become a physical therapist because I love helping and taking care of people.

My favorite spot on campus is Bayou Park because you can study on the grass, relax and lay out.

One of my favorite professors at ULM is Dr. Blackburn. He was my history professor my sophomore year and was the first professor to truly make an impression on me. I really enjoyed learning from his lectures and having conversations with him. He really enjoyed teaching and made the class enjoyable.

My favorite memory at ULM is making it through my first boot camp and soccer season. It was the most mentally and physically exhausting thing I have had to do in my life, but it gave me a sense of accomplishment, confidence, and camaraderie with my teammates.

I chose ULM because I wanted to play on the women's soccer team. Once I took my official visit, I fell in love with the people here. The team was going to be my family away from home, and everyone involved with the university was welcoming.

Balancing athletics and school was very hard in the beginning. Being on the road so much during soccer season forced me to stay on top of my studies. I would study on the bus and in the hotel rooms. I quickly learned that having a hectic schedule actually made me stay on top of my studies more than if I had a lot of free time. Time management is the key.

ULM has helped me grow because I am so far away from home. I have had to go through the college experience away from my parents. Being a part of this university and such a supportive community has allowed me to grow as a person and a student. The professors and my coaches have pushed me to do better.