This is part of an ongoing series of profiles to highlight the achievements of Sheridan's varsity student athletes academically and competitively. To view the rest of the Student Athlete Spotlight profiles, click here.

ALTHOUGH THE GAMES are played to determine winners and to ultimately crown a champion, some of the most relevant aspects of participanting in post-secondary varsity athletics are not related exclusively to sport and are more about building skills for the working world. For women's rugby player and Bachelor of Interior Design student Kirsten Archer, her experience on the field plays a vital role in her career prep in one specific area. 

"Trusting your teammates will help the team as a whole move towards a win," she says. "This will benefit me moving forward in my career as interior design is predominately created in a team atmosphere. Having trust in one another will provide a better design outcome."

Archer arrived at Sheridan in 2016, "because this college is the best in Ontario for my career choice," she says. "Our program is recognized and accredited with the most full-time staff which is very beneficial."

During her time in Double Blue, she has excelled on the field and in the classroom. Following her rookie season, she was named team MVP - an honour she regards as her highest rugby achievement at Sheridan - and this year she was a team captain, an OCAA All-Star, and a key factor in the team qualifying for the OCAA Championship for the first time since her freshman campaign. 

Her success from a sport perspective did not come at the expense of her academic achievement though, as she was named an OCAA All-Academic in 2016-17 for maintaining an honours GPA and has carried strong grades throughout her three years. There is still some work to be done in order to complete her degree, but Archer already has a road map of where she would like to go once that is complete. 

"My goal after graduating is to work in my field to gain valuable experience and eventually to become a certified interior designer," she says. "I also wish to achieve my Master's Degree in Interior Design so that I can one day be a teacher at the college level."

In order for her to get where she wants to be, she knows it will take dilligent effort, but is more than prepared for what lies ahead. 

"The hours you put into the process of designing will ultimately reflect in the final product," she says. "Working hard in anything you do will open doors to opportunity moving forward in your career."