Experiences That Last

Nov 8, 2019
By Olivia Anderson

Sir Jimmie Blog

  • Basketball
  • Education
  • New Experiences
  • Journey
  • Athletics

Olivia Anderson

When I first decided to commit to attending University of Jamestown, I had no idea how fast these four years would fly by or the lifelong impact that my experience would have on me while here.

When searching for the right school, I was looking for a place that was close to home and had good education and basketball programs. UJ checked all of those boxes; however, when I was making that big decision, I had no idea the lifelong relationships UJ would bring to me.

Teachers and classmates

Since I come from a small school, attending UJ was the right choice for me. The close relationships that I have formed with classmates, as well as teachers, over the years have made a huge impact in my education here and have given me an experience I couldn’t really get anywhere else.

The teachers here, especially in the education program, really care about each of their students – both inside and outside of the classroom – and are more than willing to do whatever they can to help. The amount of support and personal connections I have made through my education truly have been meaningful and something that I believe are unique qualities of attending UJ.

Olivia shooting a shot during a basketball game.

Basketball

Deciding to play college basketball at UJ has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Playing here has taught me many life lessons, such as the importance of hard work, patience, mental/physical toughness, and dedication…just to name a few. I believe these countless lessons have made me a better person and will carry over into my life after college.

Basketball at UJ has also given me some of my best friends – friendships that I know will last a lifetime – and the experiences and memories that I have with them are some that I will never forget. From early morning workouts and long summers of hard work to quadruple overtimes and beating Valley City, playing here has truly been a memorable experience, and I wouldn’t have wanted to go through it all with any other group of girls.

It’s really hard to believe it’s my last year, and I truly will miss the experiences I’ve had – even the 6 a.m. runs up the college hill. I will forever be grateful for the time I had playing here and the meaningful friendships I have made, and I’m excited to make the most out of my senior year with my team.

Thank you

I truly will forever be grateful for the time I’ve had here at University of Jamestown. I would like to say a huge thank you to all of my teachers, classmates, friends, coaches, and teammates, especially Dr. Brock, Dr. Nelson, Coach Ulland, Coach Crummy, Coach Joseph, Coach Sankey, Coach Logan, Coach Janay, Coach Ryder, Arei Stokes, and of course my teammates, for all of the time and support they have given me these past four years.

Olivia Anderson fighting for a loose ball.If it wasn’t for all of you, I would not have had all of the positive experiences that I have received during my time here. I truly am blessed that you all have been a huge part of my life.

It’s crazy to think that graduation is just around the corner. It seems like just yesterday I was moving into Kroeze my freshman year, but I’m excited to make the most out of the time I have left here, as I know my last days will be bittersweet. UJ truly has given me meaningful relationships and experiences that I know will last a lifetime.

Olivia Anderson hands raised with teammates after a game.

Olivia Anderson posing with the UJ Women's Basketball team flexing.

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