For my community connections project I interviewed Ashley Bull, who is a Development Coach for the British Columbia Lacrosse Association (BCLA). Part of her job as a Development Coach is travelling all over British Columbia and teaching lacrosse to different schools. She went to Canisius College in Buffalo, NY on a lacrosse scholarship and received her Bachelor Degree in Science as well as her Master Degree in Science. I choose to interview Ashley because I am very interested in playing sports at a high level, lacrosse being one of them. As I get older the option to play a sport at the college or university level becomes more and more relevant. Another reason I chose Ashley is because she is a genuinely kind person that gives back to the lacrosse community and is someone that I look up to. From this interview I have learned the value of the connections and relationships you have with people and how they can lead and open doors for you in the future. It made it easier to understand and connect with what Ashley was saying because of the love and passion we share for lacrosse. This interview has not only opened my eyes to new opportunities, but has also given me another contact and connection that could help me later in life. 

                           

Why are you passionate about your job?

Lacrosse has always been an important part of her life and she’s been playing the game for over 20 years. Over these years she has grown and developed a love and passion for the sport, both in playing and coaching. In her job she is able to travel all over British Colombia and teach lacrosse to kids in elementary, middle, and high schools. “When you have a sincere interest in your job and you have a connection to it as well as a love for what you are teaching, it’s quite easy to be passionate about your job”.

What obstacles have you faced to get you where you are today?

After graduating she had some difficulties finding a job in the field she was hoping for. She tried different jobs in between, such as investment banking and was very thankful for the experience, but she was still searching for something in the sports field. Another struggle is the limited pool of job opportunities in the sports field. Being at an American college, she realized how popular and in demand jobs in the sports field are, whether it be high school level, college level, or professional. Unfortunately, in Canada these jobs are harder to come by. 

What advice would you pass on to someone interested in what you are doing?

Networking! Take advantage of the contacts and personal relationships you develop with people. Her position with the BCLA came from a contact that she had who knew her as a person and as a coach and recommended her for the job. She believes that it is extremely important to build relationships with people, keep in contact with them, and maintain healthy and positive relationships. You never know when a job opportunity will pop up, and if it does, your might be lucky enough to have a connection. Another piece of advice she gave is to try anything and everything. It’s a great way to truly figure out what you want from your job or future career and what you don’t want. You can determine your strengths in a work setting as well as your weaknesses and improve on each. She told me to not get discouraged if your dream job isn’t available at the moment, be patient and thing will come.

Would you be open to further contact from Riverside students and if so, how can someone contact you?

She is and you can contact her by email ashleybull02@gmail.com 

Was it hard to balance school and sports? How did you balance them?

As a student athlete, there are certain expectations both athletically and academically that are expected of you. Ashley, being a member of the Canisius women’s lacrosse team had to maintain a 3.2 GPA and had to be enrolled in 6 courses per semester to remain academically eligible in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). It was quite an intense workload with practices, study hall, weight lifting sessions, and classes, but with proper time management and proper prioritization she was able meet those expectations. “It was difficult, absolutely, but when you understand what is expected of you from others and you understand what you expect from yourself, you do what you need to do and you make the necessary sacrifices needed in order to succeed”.

What is your favourite part about giving back to the lacrosse community?

“My favourite part about giving back to the lacrosse community has been watching young athletes grow and develop, not only athletically, but as individuals as well. I feel a sense responsibility in helping other athletes who may have similar goals that I had in going to college and playing lacrosse, and I love pushing athletes to their greatest potential.

This is a picture of a lacrosse camp that Ashley coached this summer.

Photos from:

-https://www.bclacrosse.com/

-https://gogriffs.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster/ashley-bull/3670

-https://allevents.in/new%20westminster/girls-summer-field-lacrosse-camp/20001135483587

-https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/sports/bull-ready-to-run-for-canada/