For Ainsley Rawlins, choosing the University of Toronto was never about narrowing her interests, it was about embracing all of them. 

As a member of the Varsity Blues squash team, a Trinity College student, and a Life Sciences scholar pursuing majors in Neuroscience and Ecology & Evolutionary biology with a minor in Physiology, Rawlins has built a university experience that reflects her natural curiosity. Whether she's training on the squash court, studying complex biological systems, or taking a quiet break at the piano in Hart House, she's found a place where every passion has room to grow. 

"I chose U of T because I had many interests and wanted the flexibility to design my own education," said Rawlins. "I was not aware of everything else this university offers: incredible professors, well-designed courses, research opportunities, beautiful places to study, an extensive library system and an athletic environment that allows me to prioritize academics." 

That freedom has allowed her to pursue an academic path rooted in questions she's been asking for as long as she can remember. 

"Biology and health sciences have always been important to me," she said. "I can't remember a time when I was not interested in how life works; this is partially what led me to pursue Life Sciences. I was also drawn to the subject because I want to help improve lives and an education in the Life Sciences opens many paths to fulfilling this." 

Although she's still determining exactly where her future will take her, Rawlins knows she wants her work to have a meaningful impact. Public health, academic medicine, neuroscience, medical research and education are all possibilities she continues to explore. 

"I am not finished with my formal education, but I have not yet decided on a specific career path," she said. "I hope that my future career will help me contribute meaningfully through one or more of these fields." 

That mindset is reflected in the way she approaches learning. Rather than viewing courses as isolated subjects, Rawlins appreciates how each one builds on the next, helping her understand the world from new perspectives. 

"My favourite thing about Life Sciences at U of T is how relevant and connected the courses are," she explained. "Every science course I have taken has influenced how I see life." 

Even in a demanding academic program, there is still room for moments of surprise. One of Rawlins' favourite classroom memories came during a first-year calculus lecture, when a lesson took an unexpected turn. 

"In my first-year calculus class, my professor was discussing slopes," she recalled. "When it came time for practice problems, everyone ended up on their feet, throwing a ball around the room. I think the activity involved calculating a slope and then throwing the ball in accordance with our results." 

It's a memory that captures the engaging and collaborative learning environment she has experienced throughout her degree. 

Balancing that workload with varsity athletics is no small task, but Rawlins sees more similarities between academics and sport than differences. For her, both require consistency, discipline and a willingness to improve every day. 

"I actually find studying and training to be quite similar in many ways; they both involve pushing yourself to become better than you are, fulfilling the commitments you make to yourself even when you don't feel like it, and finding balance between trusting yourself and learning from others," she said. 

That perspective has helped her develop a routine that keeps both priorities moving forward. 

"I manage my team schedule and academics in a similar way: with organization, planning, and discipline," she said. "I usually set aside one hour at the end of the weekend to plan my training and academic schedules for the upcoming week and make to-do lists. I also typically spend 10 minutes at the end of each day preparing for the next day. I know this is a lot of time planning, but I find it is much easier to focus on my training, studying, or whatever task I am doing, when I know I have a plan behind the work."

While much of her schedule is devoted to lectures, labs, studying, commuting and squash, Rawlins still finds opportunities to recharge. One of her favourite ways to unwind is by sitting down at the piano in Hart House whenever time allows. 

"Between attending lectures and labs, commuting, studying and playing squash, I do not have much time for extracurricular activities," she said. "But on campus, when I am not studying or playing squash, I do enjoy playing the piano at Hart House." 

Her athletic experience has been equally rewarding. Among her favourite Varsity Blues memories is reaching the OUA championship final during her first season with the team, a moment made even more meaningful because she shared it with her sister. 

"The whole OUA tournament weekend was fun. It was a special experience to play in the finals, on the same team as my sister [Keira Rawlins]." 

Experiences like that have reinforced what originally drew her to the University of Toronto: the ability to pursue excellence in multiple areas without having to choose one over another. 

For Rawlins, being a Varsity Blues student-athlete has never been about finding the perfect balance between academics and athletics. Instead, it's about recognizing that each challenge strengthens the other. The discipline developed through training supports success in the classroom, while the curiosity fostered through academics brings perspective to competition. 

Looking back on her decision to attend U of T, Rawlins believes prospective students can find the same opportunities she has. 

"To students applying to schools in Canada, I would say that U of T probably offers everything you hope for, and more."