Welcome to my e-portfolio, a digital showcase of my journey as an international Division 1 student athlete at Longwood University. I am Aine Martin, and I invite you to explore the intersection of academics and athletics that defines my unique educational experience.
As a student athlete, I have embraced the challenges and victories that come with balancing the demands of academics and sports performance, while also being in a foreign country away from my family. This e-portfolio serves as a testament to my commitment to both academics and athletics.
Within these digital pages, you are invited to delve deeper into my life history, from my experiences in education and sport and the personal growth that I have experienced throughout my life so far. I will share an insight into my demanding schedule and the immense pressure that student athletes are under.
The main focus of this e-portfolio is the achievement of playing Division 1 golf, an accomplishment that not only represents the skill, dedication, and hard work that I applied to golf but also the invaluable experience gained, and connections made through the pursuit of success.
Join me on this journey and thank you for taking the time to explore my e-portfolio.
From the charming beach houses to the Spanish moss that drapes over the streets, it is undeniable that there is a touch of enchantment to the beautiful town of Edisto Island, South Carolina. The island embraces visitors with a sense of tranquility and an extra dose of Southern hospitality. The town’s landscape, history and people have created a rich cultural destination. If Longwood women’s golf team had not received an invitation to play in the Edisto Island Invitational hosted by the College of Charleston, I would never have had the opportunity to visit the town that quickly became my favorite place in the United States of America.
We arrived at the charming villa that we would call home for three nights on Saturday, October 14th at 5pm after a seven-hour drive. The villa was a golfer’s dream and was very much a sight for sore eyes when we discovered that it overlooks the Plantation Golf course and is a thirty second walk to the golf course. We stayed until Tuesday, October 17th, the final day of the golf tournament.
The most famous attraction on the island has to be the beach. The phrase ‘hidden treasure’ immediately comes to mind. The town of Edisto is one of minimal commercial development and therefore, is unique because it does not have the typical over crowdedness and traffic that many other South Carolina beaches are famous for. Therefore, the beach is definitely family friendly and a great option for parents looking to entertain their children with water or land activities. Edisto Beach is well known for its ‘clean’ beach and for having an unusually high number of fossils and seashells to collect. My own teammates found a number of simply beautiful shells that they brought back to Farmville with them including an elusive conch shell.
It’s no secret that Southern food is some of the most comforting home style cuisines in the States. We started our southern food journey at McConkey’s Jungle Shack where I was introduced to a famous appetizer, pimento cheese. It is a convenient and tasty dish made up of shredded cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, and different seasonings that makes a delicious dip for celery. I followed the appetizer up with a local specialty, fish tacos. The tacos were made of mouth wateringly fresh fish straight from the ocean, fried in an assortment of spices, served with salad, and a ‘secret’ sauce. Overall, I would thoroughly recommend that anyone visiting Edisto Island should give McConkey’s Jungle Shack a try. The restaurant’s funky vibe was extremely refreshing.
It goes without saying that I couldn’t visit the South without trying their famous barbecue. Dinner at the Yacht Club allowed me to do just that, and it was an immense success. We ate some delicious barbecue; my favorite was the potato salad. I tried the infamous southern drink, sweet tea, known as the “house wine of the South”. I have to say that it was a little too ‘sweet’ for me. Our food journey around the South was topped off perfectly with some yummy homemade vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce for dessert.
Edisto Island, like many Southern towns, is known for its friendly residents and welcoming atmosphere. When you visit Edisto Island you can immediately feel the caring and accepting vibe across the whole island. From grabbing a coffee from the local coffee shop, visiting the surf shop and chatting to the locals living on the golf course, you can’t help but fall in love with the place.
The overall atmosphere and aesthetics of the island are breathtaking. As we arrived on the island it immediately reminded me of the popular Netflix show ‘The Outer Banks’. As you drive along it is noticeable that there are no traffic lights, high rises, or chain restaurants. The island is free of hotels and the only available accommodation is vacation rental homes and condos, which adds to its quaint charm. The local residents’ passion for college football is very prevalent as you explore the island. The rivalry between the University of South Carolina and Clemson University fans is evident from the many flags on display in front of homes and golf carts donned in their respective college colors.
As I bid farewell to the magical town of Edisto Island, South Carolina I can only think of wonderful things to say. Its nickname ‘Edislow’ suits the town so perfectly. If you are planning on visiting the island all you would need is a bike or golf cart and you would be set to explore and experience exactly why the island is so captivating. Fall is without a doubt the best time of year to visit. The temperatures are perfect, and the beach almost feels as if it is private. I will without a doubt be visiting the island again in the future and I cannot wait for the adventures and memories that await me.
The long-awaited day of the opening of the brand-new state of the art on campus basketball arena at Longwood University finally arrived on Saturday, the 11th of November 2023. The Joan Perry Brock Center is the physical manifestation of what it means to build champions and takes the student, athletic and community experience to new heights. For Lancer fans it was a daylong event starting off with a Homecoming tailgate for Longwood alumni, students, staff, and fans at 10:30am. Tip off was at 2:30 pm and the excitement for the infamous game could be felt all across campus.
Pictured: Longwood men’s and women’s golf teams and golf alumni get involved in the fun at the pre-game tailgate.
2:30pm rolled around and the crowd made their way into the sold-out arena. The energy was electric as the crowd caught the first glimpse of the space, already affectionately nicknamed the JPB. The arena is designed to embody Longwood’s traditional Jeffersonian architectural style. The red brick, white columns, serpentine walls, and arches add great character to the brand-new building. No matter where you are seated in the JPB the view is amazing. The strategic design of the seating only enhances the spectators’ experience.
On the court, Longwood gave the fans plenty of reason to cheer, as they dominated St. Mary’s of Maryland on a scoreline of 95-43. Longwood displayed a strong, physical team with a balanced offensive attack. Elijah Tucker and Jon- Jon Massie led the team with 13 points each respectively and 11 rebounds for Jon-Jon. Szymon Zapala, the Lancers tallest player, standing at 7 feet tall added 10 points and 8 rebounds for the Lancers. These results were remarkably impressive as none of the trio played for more than 16 minutes individually.
The Lancers picked up the majority of rebounds over the Seahawks, 52-17 overall. Longwood’s Finnish forward, Jesper Granlund etched his name in the history books as the first scorer in the JPB arena. The Lancers reached the halfway point with a comfortable lead of 34-11. For the remainder of the game, Longwood demonstrated their prowess with a dominant performance, securing their first victory of the season.
Lancer fans were filled with a dynamic blend of excitement, enthusiasm, and heightened engagement. The overall enthusiasm of the fans was elevated by the novelty of the surroundings coupled with the state-of-the-art facilities. The air was filled with cheers, applause, and spirited conversations. The impressiveness of the arena restored pride among Lancer fans which allowed for a vibrant and unified fan experience. The interactive displays including the jumbotron and high-quality sound system alongside the half time show allowed for a more immersive and engaging crowd atmosphere. There is no comparison between the Willett basketball center and the new JPB. Although Willet used to be packed with fans on game day, the atmosphere and overall experience in the JPB cannot be matched.
The debut of the new home of Lancer basketball was nothing short of spectacular. The arena exceeded all expectations and offered an immersive and modern experience for both athletes and fans. The pregame festivities and ceremonies added to the overall sense of occasion, building anticipation for the main event, the game. The venue and the team not only met the community’s expectations but surpassed them, solidifying its place and Longwood in general as a premier destination for sports and entertainment.
University, Longwood. “Freshman Move-In: Class of 2026 Arrives Ready for New Chapter.” Www.longwood.edu, www.longwood.edu/news/2022/freshman-move-in/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023.
Arnold, Chelsie. “Studying at Night? You’re Doing It Right.” USA TODAY, www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/04/13/studying-at-night-youre-doing-it-right/37430687/.
Buchanan, Pat. “Michael Jordan: Famous Korean Golf Player Michelle Wie.” Michael Jordan, 2011, michael-jordan12.blogspot.com/2011/05/famous-korean-golf-player-michelle-wie.html. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023.
““I Was Struggling to Find Interest to Practise” – Lowry.” Www.rte.ie, 9 Aug. 2017, www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2017/0809/896298-shane-lowry-set-to-put-two-bad-weeks-behind-him-at-pga/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023.
“This South Carolina Island Has No Traffic Lights or High Rises — and It’s Just an Hour Away from Charleston.” Travel + Leisure, www.travelandleisure.com/guide-to-visiting-edisto-island-south-carolina-7569119#:~:text=Best%20Things%20to%20Do%20on%20Edisto%20Island%201. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023.
April 21, Jessica Farthing, and 2021. “35 Classic Southern Foods Grandma Used to Make.” Eat This Not That, 21 Apr. 2021, www.eatthis.com/classic-southern-foods/.
April 21, Jessica Farthing, and 2021. “35 Classic Southern Foods Grandma Used to Make.” Eat This Not That, 21 Apr. 2021, www.eatthis.com/classic-southern-foods/.
Report, Staff. “JPB Era Started Saturday with a Win for Longwood Lancers.” Farmville, 12 Nov. 2023, www.farmvilleherald.com/2023/11/jpb-era-begins-saturday-with-a-win-for-longwood-lancers/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023.
“Lancers Ring in JPB Era with Emphatic 95-43 Win in Front of Sellout Crowd.” Longwood University Athletics, 11 Nov. 2023, longwoodlancers.com/news/2023/11/11/mens-basketball-lancers-ring-in-jpb-era-with-emphatic-95-43-win-in-front-of-sellout-crowd. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.
My digital writing- Life as an international Division 1 student athlete
