Ask anyone who knows me what my favorite thing about college is and they'll tell you the same thing: intercollegiate skating. I always knew I wanted to continue skating in college, but I don't think I realized how much being a part of the Northeastern University Figure Skating Club would shape my college experience. I'm here to tell you the three things I love most about intercollegiate skating!
1. Having teammates
As a singles skater, I never had the luxury of having teammates growing up. While most of my closest friends were training with the same coaching team as myself and we always wanted the best for one another, ultimately we all had our own individual goals in the sport and were often competing against each other at competitions. When I got to college, that changed. I had a team and my success depended on my teammates' successes. From my first practice at Matthews Arena, I knew I belonged and felt that sense of community and common purpose. I had a team of people I could call my own.
Every single member of an intercollegiate team is working towards the same overall goal - the best team placement possible. Yes, there are additional individual skating goals, but the overarching objective is the same across every single member and coach on that ice. I love sharing this goal with my teammates and working with them to achieve it. We support each other through thick and thin, on and off the ice, and each semester welcome new members into our Northeastern Figure Skating family. Nothing compares to this sense of community!
2. The atmosphere at competitions
It is hard to fully describe the atmosphere at an intercollegiate competition, but if I had to use three words they would be
- Supportive
- Energetic
- Fun
The cheering from teammates and from members of other schools for every single skater, regardless of how they skate, is beyond incredible. At the end of each competition, my voice is hoarse from screaming so loudly for all my teammates. Signs and flags from each school line the walls of the rink. Skaters are bonding with their teammates as they spend an entire weekend together. I get to see my friends from home who skate for other intercollegiate teams. The whole weekend is like a giant party, and while being on the ice alone competing will always be a little bit stressful, you are never truly alone when your teammates are screaming at the top of their lungs from the stands!
I highly recommend attending an intercollegiate competition to get a better feel for this crazy atmosphere I speak of, especially if you are on the fence about skating and/or competing in college! I promise you, once you've done one intercollegiate competition, you'll be hooked!
3. The shenanigans both on and off the ice
Some of my greatest college memories involve the little moments with my teammates. Whether it be spending an entire practice making a TikTok or just generally goofing off, van rides to competitions, or the random things we come up with at off-ice bonding events, I just love spending time with my teammates! I mentioned this earlier, but there truly is nothing that compares to having a team.
Being a part of an intercollegiate team is much more than just ice time and competitions. It's about gaining a family away from home that all share a common passion for skating and a common experience of attending the same college. You all are individuals who bond over those two things and make amazing memories as you practice at odd hours of the day, travel smushed together in a university van, and spend time together off the ice. I wouldn't trade any of it for the world!
