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Kai Hayes is a midfielder on the UNC Women's Soccer team and is an invaluable asset to her team. A well-rounded college athlete, Kai values what she has learned both on and off-the-field at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Thankfully, she managed to take some time from her busy schedule to sit down with 2aDays to answer some questions about her time so far at UNC. Here's what Kai had to say:
- Why did you choose to further your athletic career at UNC?
Once I stepped on the campus in Chapel Hill, there was no going back. The combination of academics, athletics, as well as the people and culture at Carolina is unmatched.
Related: Rate the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- What is your major/field of study? Why are you passionate about this? Does this have any relation to your athletic career?
I am a double major in Exercise and Sport Science/Sport Administration and also a Media and Journalism major. Both of these majors allow me to express my creative side as well as my competitive side. Plus, both of these tracks can potentially allow me to stay in the sports world. With Sport Administration, I am passionate about marketing and sport agencies. With [Media and Journalism], since I was a little kid, I've watched Samantha Ponder tackle a male-dominated industry, so following her footsteps, my dream job after soccer is to be a sports reporter. I enjoy connecting with individuals and the adrenaline rush that live games give, so the opportunity UNC has with both of these majors is awesome!
- What is your greatest athletic accomplishment on the field while in college?
My freshman year (2020-2021), my team and I made it to the Final Four despite all of the challenges we faced during COVID.
Related: UNC Women's Soccer Coach Anson Dorrance Offers Recruiting Advice
- What is your greatest athletic accomplishment off the court/field/etc. while in college?
Gaining admission into the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC.
- What did you look for in UNC that caused you to end up picking this school?
When I began to look for a place to continue my soccer and academic career, my dad and I made a list that had 5 key components: 1. academics 2. coaches/team culture 3. geography 4. size of school 5. cost. UNC checked off all of these boxes, so here I am!
- What is your greatest asset to your team? What is your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?
Our greatest asset is one another. The ability to have a deep bench for games is why we have had so much success, but also the ability to value one another beyond the game of soccer is why we are able to convert our talents into wins.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
- Do you find it hard to balance school work, practice, games, workouts, and other extracurricular activities?
My whole life I have had soccer and school and not much time for anything else. So although I am used to both, college is a different beast. Time management is pivotal in order to not get overwhelmed. Being a student athlete is difficult, but worth it.
Related: 40 Questions to Ask Yourself When Deciding Where to Play College Soccer
- What made your recruiting process easy/hard?
The recruiting process was made easy mostly because of the kindness from the staff and availability. However, I was a freshman in high school when I committed. I didn't know what I wanted or how money worked or how to talk to 40+ year old coaches. Thankfully it worked out, but it was definitely stressful.
Image Credit: UNC Athletics
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* Originally published on July 28, 2022, by Caleb Myers
