AS ATENEO’s first-ever online academic year comes to a close, many seniors have begun preparing for life beyond the hill. While some athletes aspire to move on to professional leagues, most will bid farewell to their competitive athletic careers for good. For Lady Eagles Chanelle Lunod and Mia Laurel, the abrupt halt of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has prompted them to reevaluate their plans in the next chapter ahead.
Pursuing the dream
Over the past five years, Queen Eagle Lunod has pursued a competitive collegiate badminton career, bringing pride to both the University and the country with her numerous accolades. Despite the lack of sporting events in the new normal, she still has an opportunity to compete in the sport internationally after qualifying to represent the Philippines in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) this coming October. Given this new opportunity, Lunod’s athletic career is far from over.
While she initially had plans of applying for jobs in the Information Technology (IT) industry, the amount of training and responsibilities that come with being a member of the National Team has put her IT career on halt. “Medyo planado na dapat yung life ko (My life was already planned) for the next few months, but that really has to change because [I can’t] lay-low [in] badminton,” she explained.
In an effort to prepare for the upcoming SEA Games, Lunod tries to adapt a healthy lifestyle by following a strict routine that entails working out as early as 6:00 AM and observing a healthy diet.
Even though Lunod is currently focusing on badminton, she continues preparing herself for a future IT career. As the current Quality Assurance Intern of the Loyola Schools, one of Lunod’s main responsibilities entails automating curriculum and course proposals of the Ateneo Graduate Programs. Through her internship, she is able to hone her coding skills and retain the competencies needed for a coveted career in the IT industry. “Right now, I only know that I will be competing in the SEA Games in October 2021. After that, I’m not sure yet what my plans are,” Lunod shared.
Forging a new path
As Lunod continues her badminton journey with the Philippine Team, Mia Laurel is already moving on from the competitive softball scene. Despite being born into a family of ballplayers and having high expectations to live up to, the softball player was never pressured into pursuing a competitive career. While her older brother, Matt, inspired her to become a Lady Eagle, Laurel’s time representing the Blue and White was cut short due to the cancellation of the UAAP.
Although Laurel only represented Ateneo for two seasons due to cancellations brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, she accepts that it is high time for her student-athlete life to come to an end. In her brief stint playing in the UAAP, she brought honor to her family name by winning the Rookie of the Year (ROY) award in UAAP Season 80. Despite being eligible to play for a few more years as a varsity member, the Lady Eagle feels that there is too much at risk in extending her college journey. “Everything’s just so uncertain. We don’t even know if there’s going to be another season, so I won’t risk it. I’m [set on] graduating,” she shared.
Outside the intercollegiate league, the UAAP Season 80 ROY also considered playing for the Philippine Team. However, with the prolonged lockdown caused by the pandemic, the Lady Eagle realized that she wanted to start looking for work opportunities beyond the ball game. While she has yet to decide on a specific industry to venture into, she plans to do part-time jobs to discover which field she is most interested in. “I don’t [see myself] turning pro. I think you have to be really confident in your skills. As much as I love playing, I don’t think I’m at that level mentally,” she shared.
Even though she admits that parting ways from her sport is difficult, she is looking forward to having more time for herself. “I’m going to miss [the routine], but it’s also [been] nice to let myself rest a little more,” said Laurel.
With more time on her plate, Laurel intends to discover new passions such as playing golf and learning more about entrepreneurship. However, even if her priorities have shifted, she will still make time for recreational softball. “I’m going to miss the UAAP even if it makes me nervous, but softball will always be a part of my life. I’ll always support the Ateneo Softball Team and the Philippine Team,” she added.
Down the hill
While both Lunod and Laurel have decided to take on different paths from each other after graduation, their long history as student-athletes have greatly prepared them for the next chapter ahead.
For Lunod, the ability to manage her time in fulfilling her responsibilities, whether in the classroom or on the court, was a lesson her glorious UAAP days had imparted to her. “A lot [of people] can be good at sports. A lot can [also] be good in academics. What stands out for me are the people who [can] balance both. [Having done both] prepared me for the future,” she commented.
Meanwhile, Laurel learned how to be more confident in herself and become a better team player from playing softball. Although her time in the UAAP was cut short, she is proud of how much she has grown in her two-year stint competing in the intercollegiate league. “Softball taught me to speak up more [and] deal with people. It made me think about what’s best for the whole team instead of how I can look good [as a] player,” voiced the Lady Eagle.
With another school year coming to an end, Lunod and Laurel are determined to bring pride to the Blue and White, whether on the national team or in the workplace. While Lunod carries on to play in the SEA Games this year, Laurel will focus on exploring new career opportunities upon graduation. As they wait for the final ceremonies to commence, they reminisce about their glory days feeling nothing but gratitude towards the lessons they learned and the family they gained along the way.
