From Sedbergh to Princeton – Pru’s Journey of Hockey, Academics, and Opportunity

After Sedbergh, Pru – Captain of the Hockey Team and England pathways player – will be going to Princeton University in the United States to study and play hockey. Pru came from France to join the School in Year 10 and it was in France that her love of hockey began. Pru talks about how she is following the sport she loves to take up the ‘unmissable’ opportunity to study in the US. 

Pru is studying for A levels in Psychology, Business and French plus Geography as an AS level subject.

Sedbergh has helped me to be successful by just encouraging me to dive into all opportunities. Knowing that I was going to an Ivy, they were really supportive with time management and they were like, you need to keep your grades up. And I understood that and I understood that I need to keep the level on the pitch as well and they just helped me balance that. My House Mistress was like, if it’s too much you need to let me know. If you need to miss this and you need to study then do it because we really want you to excel and that was the main thing. They just wanted to help in areas that they could.

From the start my House Mistress Ms Macdonald was like, you’re going to love it! She just knew that it sounds like me and she’s very excited for me and so am I.

What made you think of going to the U.S. for university?

I wanted to look for something that gave me the sport yet with the good standard of university. I knew of people in America and so I looked over there. They just give so much support to student athletes, whether that’s money-wise, time-wise, just helping them. I was looking for a while and I decided that’s probably going to be the best option if I want to keep playing a high level of hockey and keep that same high level with my education.

I was looking between a few universities and they’re all very similar. They all offer the same and they’re all great universities. It came down to the coaches and how welcoming they were. Obviously, I’m over here and I’ve yet to go out there to see them so I’ve had to base it off who I spoke to and how I felt when I spoke to them. It was a lot of video calls and speaking with my mum, comparing who we generally liked better and that’s what the final decision was I think.

What are you planning to study at university?

I’m not fully sure of my future plans yet, which is one of the benefits of studying in America. You don’t need to decide up-front. So I’m going to wait until I’m out there to decide. It could be along the lines of public national affairs, something like that. And then law conversion when I come back, that’s what I’m planning on but it’s not set in stone.

How did you become aware of the US pathway?

Whilst I was in the England pathway [for hockey], the idea of playing and studying for a university in the U.S. was talked about amongst the players because it has so many benefits. Everyone was saying, it’s just something you can’t turn down, especially when they love to look for those international players and pick you out and they’re so willing to take you on. It’s almost like you just have to let them sweep you up and you just go along with the process. So, when I knew the benefits it came with and that all I had to do was put my name in there, I thought why not? My mum said to me to just have those calls, it could lead you anywhere. So, I was having many calls with many universities; quite a broad range from Ivy to non-Ivy League. Once your name was in there they were willing to just sweep you up and they were very excited about an international player coming over.

How did you educate yourself about the pathway?

I spoke to people who I know out there. I actually know quite a few, but apart from that I got myself an agent and she taught me a lot especially about the process and she also helped me understand what sort of level I should look for and how high I could aim. You always have that doubt – thinking that’s quite a good school. But she was really willing and supportive and that’s where I got most of my understanding of the curriculum and the pathway.

What has been the most useful preparation for this pathway?

I definitely think what’s helped me most will be the boarding side, being around your friends, having to understand feelings and emotions of girls and take that onboard and as I’m about to go do the same in America, you co-board with someone else as well and they’re going to be on your hockey team. I think it’s going to be very similar. I remember speaking to my now new coach and she was like, you’re going to be so much better prepared compared to other people. Just having that experience, it’s going to be very similar just over here. So that was quite comforting. Knowing I’m going to understand what a day-to-day would be over there. It could be quite similar to here.

What is the biggest challenge that you’ve had to overcome?

My main challenge, believe it or not, may be confidence – on and off the pitch. Having lived in France, there was a massive language barrier and I had to overcome that fear of not knowing and just having to read other people and understand that you’re not going to understand everything but people still get along. And so coming here the comfort of my own language, I just felt like I opened up and my confidence has come back and yeah, I just much more confident.

What is a key thing thing that Sedbergh has taught you?

In general, from my time at Sedbergh it would have to be time management. The amount of things that I’m doing day to day, you have to manage it. So, I think that’s definitely what I’ve learned coming here – how to balance the sport yet achieve good grades and seek that extra help but also to be on the pitch at extra times. Sometimes you just feel like there’s not enough time in the day for everything I want to do. So for me, it’s definitely been time management.

What is your favorite thing about boarding at Sedbergh?

My favorite thing about boarding at Sedbergh School is being around my friends all the time. Whether you are down or up, they’re always there and you can literally just pop in to the room next door and have your chat and go back. It’s an experience that you’ll only understand if you come to a boarding school. I think it’s just such a great opportunity to have your friends so close, whether it’s in the same house or just across the field in another girl’s house. I just think it’s the best opportunity.

Which of Sedbergh’s values do you most identify with and why?

I identify most with ambition as one of Sedbergh’s values; always pushing myself for that further step. I think going somewhere which is thousands of miles across from where I am now is daunting, yet I’m going to take it as exciting in a new chapter. And you have to, it’s an opportunity you can’t turn down. If I don’t like it, I don’t like it, but I really, I need to try it. And I think, honestly, I think when I’m out there it’s going to be hard to get me back!