Meet Laura Lacambra, an international undergrad student, originally from Barcelona, Spain. Laura is an athlete on the UMBC Retrievers women’s basketball team, and is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, and minoring in psychology. She is currently completing her undergraduate research under the supervision of Daniel Lobo, associate professor of biology. In addition to being an athlete and a STEM student, Laura also spends her time working as a tour guide on campus. The key to her success, she says, has been the overwhelming support she has received from the diverse community at UMBC. From this, she has been able to make valuable connections, both with staff and her peers, who’ve encouraged her to reach all her goals. Take it away, Laura!
Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.
A. Someone who has supported me and helped me from the very first moment I came to the U.S. is Adriana Mason, my academic advisor in athletics. She has helped me through the challenges of being a student-athlete in STEM and has supported me in the academic decisions that I have needed to make over the last two years. I am very grateful that she has encouraged me to continue being ambitious in all aspects of my life, not just within sports, but also in my academics as well.
Q: What do you love about your academic program or an organization you’re involved in?
A. The main organization I am involved in is Athletics. What I like most about the athletics department are the personal and close relationships I have formed with the staff. Everyone who works in the department wants the best for you as both a student and an athlete. They provide you with many resources, and there is always someone willing to help you with your problems, no matter what they are. There is always someone who will listen to you and offer you the necessary tools to overcome any situation.
Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone to know about the support you find at UMBC?
A. UMBC is very inclusive and has a very diverse community. It is a great place to prepare you for your future. I feel like I am encouraged to pursue my dreams here. There are people who will be by your side at all times, no matter what path you go down. Additionally, with such a diverse community, you will always find someone who is willing to help you, or who has already been through your situation.
Q: What’s your WHY? What brought you to UMBC in the first place?
A. I came to UMBC to grow as an athlete and as a student. UMBC offers me the best experience, balancing both sports and academics. On the one hand, with sports, I am challenged by the staff to achieve my full potential. It can be very demanding, but it is very rewarding at the same time. I feel personal satisfaction when I am able to achieve my goals.
On the other hand, with academics, I feel like I am very much provided with the support I need as an international student. I am constantly learning outside of my comfort zone, (studying in a third language, for example), and this helps me feel confident to take on the professional world in the future. I am also given the chance to major in fields here, that are not available in Spain.
“UMBC is very inclusive and has a very diverse community. It is a great place to prepare you for your future.
Q: Tell us about your HOW. Since you’ve been a part of the UMBC community, how have you found support of your WHY?
A. My team of coaches knows me and they trust me. They also help me to improve my skills so that I can be the best player possible, and achieve the objectives that have been set at the beginning of the season.
I have also found great support from my teammates, especially Carmen Yanez and Grace Cesserety. I spend most of my time with them, from traveling on the road, to living in the same apartment together. They see me on my best and worst days, and they are always there to support me through everything and encourage me to keep going.
On an academic level, biology professor, Cynthia Wagner has helped me navigate the world of undergraduate research. As an international student, I had no knowledge of how to get into a laboratory, how to get an internship related to science, and who I should contact and how I should do it. She has been a great help to me, guiding me on how I should communicate with those in the science world in order to be able to work in the specific field that I want to dedicate myself to in the future. Thanks to all her guidance, I am now working in a lab at UMBC and learning a lot of valuable skills.
Finally, I am lucky enough to be able to work in the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Being able to work in this office has helped me to become more comfortable speaking English in front of the public, and also interacting with large groups of people. Even if I come across situations that I may be less familiar with, I have been able to learn how to manage them. I am very grateful to Gina Ralston (campus visit coordinator), who gave me the opportunity to work with this team, and for being so flexible in helping me coordinate my work with my other responsibilities.
Q: What would you tell others who are in your shoes about UMBC?
A. If I were to talk to another student-athlete, I would tell them that with hard work, perseverance, and organization, they can accomplish everything they need to. My advice is to allow yourself to have bad days and good days, because not every week is going to be the same. There are going to be thousands of ups and downs, moments of euphoria, and others of sadness, and it’s okay to have those moments. It’s important to support each other. Remind yourself that there are always people who want the best for you, and those people are going to be your best resource to fill you with the energy you need to achieve your goals. The most important thing is to keep working and don’t give up, the results will follow.
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UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.
Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.
Tags: Athletics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, CGE, ISSS, Meet a Retriever, Psychology, STEM, Women's Basketball
