Each Thursday, varsityblues.ca will highlight a U of T student-athlete and their academic pursuits. Each of these students achieved first class honours with an AGPA of at least 3.50 in the previous academic year. These are our Student-Athlete Stories.

Taking on a task while uncertain of our own abilities can be a large hurdle for anyone to overcome. Doubt creeps in and mental blocks can begin to build around us. This type of imposter syndrome can affect even the most adept academic or athlete, but with support and validation those walls can come down.

For Varsity Blues women's hockey player Lauren Omoto, it was a University of Toronto academic recognition that lifted her above those early feelings of self-doubt.

"Balancing academics, athletics, and extracurriculars has been challenging at times, but receiving the University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA) to conduct my current research at SickKids has probably been my favourite academic-related memory here so far," mentioned Omoto. "I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome related to academics and research here, but receiving that award gave me more confidence in the research I was doing and in my academic ability."

The UTEA is an undergraduate honour provided to students in order to gain direct research experience through a faculty-led project. Omoto utilized the recognition to further her academic interests, which sparked her decision to pursue a double major in human biology and psychology.

"I've had an interest in science for as long as I can remember, but I've always been especially drawn to learning about neurodegenerative disease and cancers as I have witnessed the detriments of such diseases in many individuals in my life. The research I have been able to conduct here at university-affiliated labs and now at SickKids has allowed me to synthesize and apply what I have learned in my academics to attempt to find novel therapies for diseases like cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and neurogenerative disorders."

Her academic success has been supplemented by athletic success as the former Whitby Jr. Wolves hockey player has played a part in the Varsity Blues women's hockey programs stellar performance over the past several years, which included an OUA McCaw Cup championship title last season.

"Our team overcame a lot of adversity, and being able to translate what we worked on over the course of the whole season into the achievement of a McCaw Cup is an indescribable feeling," said Omoto. "Being able to share the moment not only with my teammates but with the rest of the Varsity Blues and U of T community has to be a favourite athletic-related memory so far."

In her third season competing with the Varsity Blues, Omoto has already appeared in over 40 games with the Blue and White, including regular season and postseason contests. The shutdown defender has tallied seven points during her career, including her first career goal in a 3-0 shutout victory over Toronto Metropolitan University last season.

As she continues her time at the University of Toronto, she adds in even more worthwhile experiences. Omoto has served as director of communications with U of T's Women in Sport club, and as an academic mentor and tutor with the Academic Support for Athlete's Program (ASAP). This is in preparation for a future that may include medical school or other research-based entry ways into a dream career.

"A majority of my classes I have taken have had a strong focus on disease diagnosis and progression, a subject area that is constantly changing. My dream occupation would be to work as a pathologist as this line of work would allow me to positively impact the community through research and clinical work, which is ideal for me. I've always enjoyed being challenged academically and athletically, and U of T has been able to provide this while allowing me to develop necessary skills for success beyond graduation."