By Shrina Shah
As we all step onto campus and NCSSM begins to come to life, so does its unique and vibrant community. Here, everyone can find their niche—whether it’s dance, student government, or anything in between—and begin forging lifelong memories. While most students tend to gravitate towards academic clubs, another great way to get involved, stay active, and meet people that you might not have otherwise is joining a sports team!
During my junior year at NCSSM, I was a member of the women’s basketball team. One of the best things about this team was how it allowed me to connect with people I wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise. There were both juniors and seniors from different halls, friend groups, and interests—but when you’re all together, none of that matters. Whether we’re on crammed vans to away games, celebrating wins at Cookout, or cracking jokes on the bench, it’s almost like your team becomes another family on campus. I had the opportunity to speak with Connie Okonkwo ‘26, a member of NCSSM’s Women’s Volleyball team. She shared the same opinion, and added that one of her favorite memories on the volleyball team was tryouts week. Specifically, she stated how “between sweat, tears, and laughter, getting to meet all the amazing girls during the first few days and holding hands to see if we made the team together was a fever dream.”
Outside of extracurricular activities, life at NCSSM can be incredibly intense at times. Between academics, living on your own, and trying to find time to relax, having a consistent outlet can make a huge difference. Being part of a sports team allows you to directly build time into your schedule to exercise, which became crucial for me as my days got busier. It gave my mind a break, kept me active, and surprisingly helped with time management. Being on a team at NCSSM forced me to take advantage of small windows of free time, which made me more efficient.
I want to take a second to emphasize that even if you’ve never played a sport before or if you just want to try something new, there are options for you! On top of being a member of the basketball team, I also joined beginner Cross Country. The coaches created separate practice plans for students just getting into running, which made it easier to build endurance for the meets. As long as you came to three practices per week and two meets during the season, you got to experience the benefits that come with being a part of a team, such as meeting new people and implementing movement into your daily routine.
Joining a sports team at NCSSM makes for a great experience! Some of the memories I made on these teams are still ones that I talk about today, and some were even the first moments I shared with my now best friends. If you’re still hesitant about joining a team, I think Connie’s words say it best. When asked if she would encourage others to join a team, she said, “GO FOR IT! NCSSM sports gives you access to the most amazing communities, inspiring students, and privileged memories that any student could ask for. Late night food runs after a long game and eating dinner with your teammates after practice is something I will always value.” Sports at NCSSM may have been tiring at times to balance a team with other responsibilities, but it was definitely worth it.
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