Each week, the Record (using a script in R) randomly selects a student at the College for our One in Two Thousand feature, excluding 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 recent field hockey season. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Audrey Adam (AA): You got back from visiting 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, which they won. My friend is a senior, and it was the last home game she could go to, so we went all out.

AA: That is so fun. You just moved from New Jersey to the Poconos. I’m sure that’s been pretty different. How was the adjustment?

LR: My family had actually been going to the Poconos my entire life, and I had a ton of friends up there, so it hasn’t been that different. Honestly, I love it there. It’s beautiful, and the summer is great. My entire family loves going up there, and I’m only an hour and a half from where I lived in New Jersey. 

AA: Are you going to be there this summer?

LR: I’m not sure. I’m trying to figure it out, but I’d love to be in Boston, where I have a lot of family. If I can’t, I’ll be in the Poconos, and that would be great — I can’t complain.

AA: Since last summer, how has your school year been? How was the start of spring semester?

LR: It’s been good. I hope the cold weather goes away soon, but I really like my classes. 

AA: What’s your favorite class this semester?

LR: I’m taking “Remembering Nagasaki,” a history class on Nagasaki as the “forgotten atomic city.” It’s a pretty small seminar, and it’s great. I love the professor, James Nolan. He’s the best.

AA: I heard you’re walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain over spring break. Can you tell me a little more about that?

LR: It’s through Williams Catholic. We leave the Sunday after spring break starts. I’m flying into Madrid, and then we are walking 100-something miles over eight or nine days. 

AA: Wow. 

LR: Yeah, I’m incline walking now, trying to prepare.  [Laughs.] After the trip, we fly home the Friday before classes start. I’m so excited. I think it’s going to be amazing. I don’t really know anybody I’m going with, but I’m excited to get to know them — It’s going to be a really great bonding experience.

AA: Did you buy some good hiking shoes?

LR: I think I’m just going to wear my Hokas. I hope that’s okay. It’s not very hilly. But I do get to borrow a bunch of stuff from the Outing Club, like a backpack, so I don’t really have to buy anything.

AA: How many miles is it in total?

LR: If you hike the entire Camino, it’s about 500 miles. But we are walking around 125.

AA: How many miles per day?

LR: It’s about 18 miles a day, I think. I’m really nervous as the trip gets closer. But it is going to be a great experience and a good chance to try and disconnect from my phone. I’ll be really focusing on reflecting. I think it is going to be a different spring break, and one that will be really worthwhile.

AA: Good thing you’re doing it outside of field hockey season. 

LR: Yes. Hopefully I don’t get injured or anything. [Laughs.]

AA: I was going to say, I don’t think you can get more injured than you did last season! Can we talk about that Final Four game from this past fall?

LR: Yeah. I mean it was such a crazy game. There were five or six minutes left in the game [against Tufts], and it was tied. I got a ball to the face a little above my eyebrow, and I had to leave right away and get 17 stitches.

AA: Oh my gosh.

LR: I was honestly really upset that I didn’t get to watch the rest of the game, because it was tied with only a few minutes left. But I’m really thankful I didn’t get a concussion.

AA: How has it healed since the game?

LR: Pretty well. I don’t think it looks bad — maybe others would say something else — but it makes for a good story, so I don’t mind it.

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

LR: Sadly, 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 for the upcoming season?

LR: Yes, so excited. It’s going to be great.

AA: Speaking of next year, are you planning on going abroad?

LR: I’m planning on it. I don’t know exactly where I’m going to go. I really want to go to Australia, but I don’t think my parents want me to go, because it’s so far. But if I can convince them, I’m going to go there. Otherwise, maybe I’d go somewhere in Europe. I’d love to go somewhere where I could play field hockey.

AA: And if you go to Australia in the spring, then it’ll be summer.

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