Phoebe Anderson took a year off from academia to work as a teaching assistant for students with special educational needs and as a caregiver for the elderly before moving from London to New York to begin teaching at Columbia University. These experiences taught her the importance of community. Anderson also went to Costa Rica and Mexico to work on permaculture farms, where she learned the intricacies of farming and spent her free time running on the beach.
![A female student with a flag sits on the shoulders of another student](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/thumbnail_IMG_7430.jpg)
Anderson is currently a student at the University Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development He is also a cross country runner for the Colombian team. In her Q&A below, she reflects on her decision to join the program, the importance of her extracurricular activities, and her future goals.
What attracted you to majoring in sustainable development?
I was drawn to this program because of the wide range of classes I could take as part of my major. The courses ranged from policy to climate science, and I was excited because I wanted the challenge of understanding all aspects of sustainable development.
What are your career aspirations? How has participating in sustainable development programs influenced those aspirations?
I would like to work in the water field. Specifically, I would like to pursue a career that addresses water poverty and provides solutions to local water shortages. I enjoyed learning about this topic in multiple classes. One of my favorites was a hands-on course on watersheds in New York City. The course involved a weekend field trip to learn about New York's water sources in the Catskill Mountains and the various stakeholders involved in watershed management.I had fun too US Water and Energy Policy CourseThere, I learned about key legal case studies and their relationship to developments in U.S. water policy, as well as the mapping of water quality data. Environmental data analysis.
Can you tell us more about your sporting activities?
I started playing lacrosse. I gradually realized that I wasn't great at the skill part of the game and mostly enjoyed running around with my friends. So I decided to pursue running at my local athletics club and was inspired both by the opportunity to represent England for the first time in 2020 and by the people I met and the places I visited while running.
What is a typical day like for you as a student-athlete? How do you balance academics and sports?
My days are filled with back-to-back classes, workouts, and meals. It always starts with a big breakfast, then class, practice, lunch, some more classes, sometimes strength training, the library, and ends with dinner with friends and a good night's sleep. I usually get 9-10 hours of sleep so I can train and work at my best. The fun and interesting people around me make the whole process easier and I feel like the workload of work and training is much lighter.
What is your proudest moment in your athletic career so far?
My proudest moment is NCAA All-American during the 2023 cross country season. Suffering from a serious illness, he suddenly missed the outdoor NCAA track and field competition in May. U23 European Championship, needed to rebuild momentum heading into cross country season. I remained determined to achieve my goal of winning the U.S. Championship. It was even more fun thanks to my amazing friends who trained with me and came to support me on the day!
What challenges did you face as a student-athlete and how did you overcome them?
I have been plagued by injuries and illnesses during the peak of both my competitive season and critical training for the postseason. I learned how to limit the onset of these symptoms by recovering better, planning my workouts, and managing academic stress through yoga and bedtime reading.
What advice would you give to other student-athletes looking to excel in sports while maintaining academic success?
Surround yourself with like-minded and motivated people. They will support you on your best days and be there for you when everything doesn't go as planned. It's great to have friends who share interests outside of lacrosse, and it gives me a mental break from the (sometimes) monotonous nature of training. They can challenge me to think about topics I haven't considered before.
I also encourage students to take classes that really interest them. By doing so, your work will no longer feel like a burden. Finally, go to office hours if possible. Because office hours are always an opportunity to clarify lectures that you might not have been able to make in the conference, and to build connections with your TAs and professors.