Chatham-Kent’s Hannah Anderson, Making CK Proud
Chatham-Kent sends athletes across Ontario, Canada, and the globe each year to compete athletically.
Sponsored by baCK to Chatham-Kent, we’ll be featuring local athletes who have left Chatham-Kent, and are proudly representing our community. We hope many of these athletic ambassadors for our community someday come baCK to call Chatham-Kent home.
This week, we feature Thamesville’s Hannah Anderson who competes in varsity rowing for the Brock University Badgers.
Here are Hannah’s responses to our baCK to Chatham-Kent athletes interview:
- Can you describe what support you’ve felt from your hometown/ Chatham-Kent while you’ve been away?
The biggest support system I have when I am away from school is my family. My mom, dad and sister are very supportive, and they will drive to watch my races no matter how far. Rowing is not a typical sport in my family. My dad enjoys hockey, and my sister is also very much into hockey. I used to play hockey and I still do for fun, but rowing was a sport where I excelled more, meaning I could compete at a higher level. So even though my family did not know much about rowing, they were open to learn, they were always there for all of my races and always supported me in every way possible. My extended family is also very supportive, they are always curious about my races or how training is going, so I definitely feel the support from back home from them as well. I have also felt support from some of my former teachers from Ursuline college as well as the reciprocal support amongst my group of friends who have also gone on to play varsity sports.
2. What do you enjoy about coming home to visit?
I enjoy coming home because there is a sense of community. When I go around town, I always see people that I know or have not seen in a while and it feels like I have never left. When I come home the occasions such as Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter allow me to see my friends and extended family, therefore there is always a sense of comfort and familiarity. The majority of my extended family has chosen Chatham-Kent to be their home and to raise their families.
3. Would you consider making Chatham-Kent home again some day?
Chatham-Kent is a place that I would definitely consider making home again. I grew up on a farm, on the same road that my family has been on for four generations. Most of my family is in Chatham-Kent and it is where I feel the most sense of home or community. I think Chatham-Kent was a great place to grow up. I grew up on a farm, which is where I learned my work ethic, and was able to play every sport I ever wanted to. I had a great sense of community growing up and I still do even though I am away at school currently. Therefore, I definitely see myself moving back to Chatham-Kent when I am finished school and hopefully finding a job as a teacher.
4. What advice would you give to young athletes back home in Chatham-Kent?
What I would have to say to young athletes is that your never too old to try something new. I had played so many different sports growing up such as hockey, rugby, swimming, basketball and golf. I was in my second year of university. I though rowing seemed like an interesting sport and I love water sports so I thought I would talk to the coach. Then the next year I was competing for Brock. Also, I have learned that if you truly want to excel at something, you have to put in a lot of hard work and you must have dedication. I learned very quickly that I would have to wake up at 4am every morning to row and train before classes. So, you never know if you are good at something until you try.