Friday, October 23, 2020

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.

Name: Estee Leung
Sport: Women's Golf
Institution: Simon Fraser University
Year: Senior
Major: Biomedical Physiology
Hometown: Richmond, British Columbia

Why Did You Choose To Attend Simon Fraser?: I chose to attend Simon Fraser because it is the only NCAA Division II school in Canada and it provides a lot of student support. It was also a bonus that my older sister, Emily, was also on the women’s golf team at the time. I thought it would be nice to be on the same team as her.  

What Is Your Favorite Class You Have Taken And Why?: My favorite class was an elective that I took called Literary Classics. I didn’t read a lot growing up and I read six books during that semester. The books we read were very interesting. It also made me want to read more books moving forward.

Who Is Your Favorite Professor And What Did You Enjoy About Learning From Him Or Her?: My favorite professor is Dr. Andy Hoffer. I took a directed study class with him and have been working in his lab doing research on golf for the past two years. I learned a lot of research and data management skills from him.

Years Involved In SAAC: One year.

The Reason You Chose To Get Involved In SAAC: Being involved in SAAC gives me an opportunity to plan activities that enrich the student-athlete experience. I have gotten involved in meaningful activities in the local community and have developed important leadership and teamwork skills.

Most Memorable SAAC Activity To Date: My most memorable SAAC activity was my first time volunteering with Special Olympics. It was my first time interacting with Special Olympics athletes and their positivity and dedication were inspiring.

What Does It Mean To You To Be A Division II Student-Athlete?: Being a Division II student-athlete means being able to excel in both sports and academics. It means I have to work extra hard to succeed compared to the average student.  

What Is The Most Important Thing You’ve Learned About Balancing Athletics And Academics?: I learned to prioritize all of my commitments and be aware of the different responsibilities that I have. There are a lot of available opportunities but I only have so much time. Instead of overwhelming myself, I learned to discern and focus on things that have the highest priority.

Biggest Obstacle Overcome During Your Collegiate Career: Getting through four midterms in a single week after playing in a tournament the week prior. It definitely involved a lot of stress, prioritizing, time management and sacrifice.

Most Memorable Sports-Related Moment: Our team winning the 2019 GNAC Championships after an eight-stroke deficit after the first round. We earned the first-ever automatic berth to the NCAA West Region Championships. To celebrate, we jumped into the lake together at Coeur d'Alene. It was one of the craziest things I have ever done.

Best Advice You’d Give To An Incoming Freshman: Strive for growth instead of results. Our coach constantly reminds us to strive to be one iota better every day, which is a motto that I live by.

Extracurricular Activities: I am a senior welcome leader, Special Olympics volunteer, learning coach and worship pianist. I also enjoy playing tennis.

Future Goals After Graduation: I’d like to work in the health care field or do something with medical research.

Favorite Athlete: Bryson DeChambeau.