Major: Psychology
Hometown: Cozad, NE
When Shaundra joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Women’s Lacrosse Club during her sophomore year, she barely knew what lacrosse was.
“I was walking around the Big Red Welcome Street Festival and found the lacrosse team booth. Being from a small town, I'd never really heard much about lacrosse, let alone played it,” she remembers. “The president at the time told me they’d never played before college either, so I thought ‘okay, what’s it going to hurt to sign up?’”
Shaundra was eager to dive into something that could connect her with more students but was nervous about trying something completely new. After her first few practices, Shaundra quickly saw a sport — and a team — she could build her community around.
“I’d played other sports in high school, but this was a really big learning experience for me. A lot of the people who were teaching me were also still learning alongside me, which was relieving. That’s a really nice thing with the club sports: there's always someone who’s willing to help you.”
Shaundra also found that lacrosse was a fun way to meet Huskers with different interests and backgrounds.
“We’ve had lots of students from out of state come play on the team, and now more people from Nebraska are growing up around the sport, too. It was nice to find something on campus where I could meet so many different people and feel so connected with them.”
Today, Shaundra is entering her senior year as co-president of the team that’s come to be a crucial part of her Husker experience. As an orientation leader with New Student Enrollment, she tells incoming Huskers that taking a chance on something new could make a big impact.
"It’s super important to build your community here on campus, and I feel like joining clubs can be a great way to do that. There are so many people here who want to talk to you and want to get to know you, and when you step outside of your comfort zone — even if it’s just attending one meeting — you'll find people you connect with.”
