Sports student and elite athlete – Lauren Tenn-Mills – lapped up her summer scholarship at one of the world’s top universities.
Promising Bo’ness athlete Lauren Tenn-Mills (18) – who is just starting her HND Health, Fitness and Exercise this year at the Falkirk Campus – spent six weeks at Harvard in the USA, from 22 June-10 August, on a sporting and academic training scholarship secured through Who Cares Scotland.
Falkirk Victoria Harriers athlete Lauren qualified to apply for the course as she has come through the adopted care system and managed to win through from 50 other hopefuls to secure one of only two places for the much sought after slots.
At the world-renowned Ivy League university based in Boston, Massachusetts – which boasts some of the best sporting facilities on the globe – she honed her long-jumping and sprinting technique, as well as studying for Psychology and Vocal Production units, which will complement her HND.
Lauren, trained in the McCurdy outdoor athletics track and the Gordon indoor arena, as well as state-of-the-art strength and conditioning and sports science facilities, while at Harvard.
She, said: “It was absolutely amazing. The best bit for me was meeting new people and making new friends. The first week was a bit of a shock and it took a while for me to get used to the classes and doing my own cooking, cleaning and laundry!
“It was a great atmosphere and I managed to focus and concentrate on my classes which were three hours at a time. As a result I got an ‘A’ in my Vocal Production – or public speaking – and a B in Psychology, which I am delighted at.
“It really has been such a life-changing experience and I now really want to finish my HND and go on to university in Scotland and become a child psychologist.
“The sports facilities were top notch, though I did not expect anything less. Indoor, outdoor, I had the place virtually to myself at times as most of the students were on their holidays.
“The track was great and the long-jump sand was so clean and well kept, that I just loved training there. Despite it being nearly 40 degree heat some days, I was jumping consistently close to my personal best when training and I was really happy with that.
“I was one of only two Scots out of 1500 people on the summer scholarships and I met people from America, Australia and from all parts of the world. It has laid the foundation for me to push myself, not only in my academic career, but in my athletics career.”
Lauren is now eyeing the 200m sprint discipline to add to her long-jump and 60m events and can’t wait to develop her skills even further to include the hurdles.
She added: “I am glad to be back at college and to start back my strength and conditioning with Wai in the gym. I feel more mature and stronger than last year and am looking forward to being pushed further in my studies and on the track.”
