Friday, October 23, 2015

 Part of a regular series.

Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes who are members of their respective institutions' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In addition to providing feedback on the student-athlete experience, conference and institutional SAAC members also offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. Click here for more information on the function of SAAC at the NCAA level.

Olivia Aguiar
Simon Fraser University
Women’s Soccer
Junior
Coquitlam, British Columbia

College major:
Kinesiology

Extracurricular activities:
Playing the guitar; reading; hanging out with friends & family; watching movies; playing basketball, volleyball & soccer; walking/biking/running the Seawall in Vancouver.

Why did you choose to attend SFU?
Sentimental Value - I've had a lot of family and friends attend and graduate from SFU. It's close to home and for as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to go there for school. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to play soccer there as well.

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why?
Organic Chemistry - Although it was challenging and took up a lot of my time, it was very interesting to learn about the real-life applications of organic chemistry that we encounter every day without even knowing. I also had an awesome professor, TA and first-class group of friends which made the class that much better.

Who is your favorite professor you've had in college and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her?
Too many to mention! I've enjoyed the majority of the professors I've had at SFU, especially the Kinesiology professors. Each professor I've had has been extremely cooperative and accommodating with our athletic schedule as well as accessible any time I've had questions or needed help with assignments, midterms, etc.

Years involved in SAAC:
Two

The reason I chose to get involved in SAAC:
To give back to the community that gives so much to us. Also, to establish a culture within SFU Athletics where our student-athlete body is supportive of one another and connected with not only athletics, but also the rest of the student body and community.

Most memorable SAAC activity:
Last year we attended a local elementary and were given the opportunity to talk to the kids about our jerseys and what it means to be a part of a team.

Favorite part of GNAC SAAC retreat:
I've never gone to one unfortunately!

If I could change one NCAA rule, it would be:
"Junior year from July 1 - A college coach is only permitted to contact you in person off the college campus only on or after July 1st when you have completed your junior year of high school. If the coach meets with you or your parents and says anything to you or them then this is considered a contact. Anything more than a very basic hello is a contact."

I think coaches should be able to contact athletes in their junior year without the fear of a violation. I'd like to see the NCAA change the communication rules between coaches and prospective student-athletes to create a more comfortable environment for communication as well as eliminate any sort of misinterpretation of a coaches actions (i.e. is the Coach mad at me? Why is he/she ignoring me?).

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics?
Time management is vital. Balancing athletics and academics is a huge juggling act but if you can manage your time right and stay organized you'll be very successful. Although it is a tough balancing act, it is manageable and you can be successful both on the field and in the books.

What does it mean to be a Division II student-athlete?
It means we get to compete at one of the highest levels for athletics while challenging ourselves academically to succeed as students. It's the perfect balance between having a competitive, collegiate athletic experience as well as a strong academic focus. Specifically at SFU, we are the only Canadian school that participates in the NCAA which is such an amazing opportunity in itself. I get to compete against some of the best athletes across the nation as well as get a degree from one of the most comprehensive universities in the world. Could it get any better?

Current mentor(s):
My coaches, Annie Hamel and Anna Picarelli, who continue to push me and bring the best out of me on and off the pitch. Not only are they great role models for student-athletes and what it means/takes to be a student-athlete, they inspire myself and my teammates on and off the field to be better, kind and well-rounded individuals. They are my biggest supporters, next to my parents, and have been with me through all sorts of ups and downs. I cannot explain how much I've learned from them as a soccer player, a student and a young adult. I only wish that I can be half as wise and funny when I am their age.

Future goals after school:
Medical School - I want to go into internal medicine, specifically Cardiology.

Biggest obstacle overcame during collegiate career:
Rehabilitating an ACL injury in my sophomore year.

Best advice I’d give to an incoming freshman:
Don't be shy to say hi to your fellow student-athletes - It's truly amazing the amount of incredible people you will meet and the lifelong friendships and connections you will make by the end of your journey.
Enjoy your time as a student-athlete - get involved with the school and community as much as possible, whether it be volunteering at events or attending games.

If I could spend the day with one person (past or present), who would it be (and why)?
My grandmother, Olivia, on my dad's side of the family. Unfortunately, she passed away when my dad was young. Everyone tells me she was the sweetest, most giving person in the world. I would love to spend a day with her, just to get to know her, listen to her stories and share a couple laughs.

Favorite sports team:
Real Madrid C.F.

Favorite athlete:
Bo Jackson

Most memorable sports-related moment:
Qualifying for provincials my senior year of soccer in high school. The amount of adversity we had to overcome to get there was unimaginable but we were able to push through it all and get to provincials.

One thing that people don't know about me is:
I'm a human jukebox - play me any song and I'll tell you what it is.