Laura Ryan '27 – The Williams Record

Every week the Record (Use of a script in r) happens to choose a student at college for our two thousand functions, except Current Record Board members. This week Laura Ryan '27 discussed her recent visit to Villanova University, her plans to walk the Camino de Santiago, and her latest field hockey season. This interview was processed for length and clarity.

Audrey Adam (AA): You are visited by Villanova University. How was it?

Laura Ryan (LR): It was a lot of fun. I stayed with one of my friends from the Poconos, and Villanova had a big basketball game on Friday. My friend is a senior and it was the last home game she could go, so we went out.

AA: It's so much fun. They have just moved from New Jersey to the Poconos. I am sure it was pretty different. How was the adaptation?

LR: My family had gone to the Poconos all my life, and I had a lot of friends up there, so it wasn't that different. To be honest, I love it there. It's beautiful and summer is great. My whole family loves it up there and I am only an hour and a half of my life in New Jersey.

AA: Will you be there this summer?

LR: I'm not sure. I try to find out, but I would like to be in Boston, where I have a lot of family. If I can't, I will be in the Poconos, and that would be great – I can't complain.

AA: How was your school year since last summer? How was the beginning of the spring semester?

LR: It was good. I hope the cold weather will soon disappear, but I really like my classes.

AA: What is your favorite class in this semester?

LR: I remember “Nagasaki”, a history course on Nagasaki as a “forgotten atomic city”. It's a pretty small seminar and it's great. I love Professor James Nolan. He is the best.

AA: I heard that you go for a walk in Spain with the spring holidays with the Camino de Santiago. Can you tell me a little more about it?

LR: It is through Williams Catholic. We leave Sunday after the spring holidays begin. I fly to Madrid and then we go 100 miles over eight or nine days.

AA: Wow.

LR: Yes, I'm going to go now and try to prepare myself. [Laughs.] After the trip we will fly home before class on Friday. I'm so excited. I think it will be incredible. I really don't know anyone I go with, but I am happy to meet them – it will be a really great experience with bond.

AA: Did you buy a few good hiking shoes?

LR: I think I'll just wear my Hokas. I hope that's okay. It's not very hilly. But I can borrow a few things from the excursion club like a backpack, so I really don't have to buy anything.

AA: How many miles is it overall?

LR: If you hike the entire camino, it is about 500 miles. But we go around 125.

AA: How many miles a day?

LR: It's about 18 miles a day, I think. I am really nervous when the trip comes closer. But it will be a great experience and a good chance to separate from my phone. I will really concentrate on thinking. I think it will be a different spring break and one that is really worth it.

AA: It's good that you do it outside the field hockey season.

LR: Yes. Hopefully I will not be hurt or anything. [Laughs.]

AA: I wanted to say, I don't think they can be injured more than last season! Can we talk about the last four game from last autumn?

LR: Yes. I mean it was such a crazy game. There were still five or six minutes in the game [against Tufts]And it was bound. I got a ball a little over my eyebrow in the face and had to go immediately and get 17 stitches.

Aa: Oh my god.

LR: To be honest, I was very angry that I was not allowed to watch the rest of the game because it was only a few minutes before worn. But I am really grateful that I didn't get a concussion.

AA: How has it healed since the game?

LR: pretty good. I don't think it looks bad – maybe others would say something else – but it makes a good story, so it doesn't matter to me.

AA: It's definitely a good story. How did the rest of the game go?

LR: Unfortunately we lost. That's why I was upset because I couldn't be there with the team when we lost our last game, especially after such a great season.

AA: Are you excited about the upcoming Season?

LR: Yes, so excited. It will be great.

AA: Speaking of next year: Are you planning to go abroad?

LR: I plan to do it. I don't know exactly where to go. I really want to go to Australia, but I don't think my parents want me to go because it is so far. But if I can convince you, I'll go there. Otherwise I might go somewhere in Europe. I would like to go somewhere where I could play field hockey.

AA: And if you go to Australia in spring, it will be summer.

LR: Yes, I would love two summer. It would be worth it.