The past academic year was a busy one for Kent Law School undergraduate Libby Sheehy-Jenkins. While completing her second year of studies, she also represented England on the Lacrosse Aspire squad. Here’s her story:
‘My name is Libby, and I am about to start my final year on the Law LLB at the University of Kent. I’m originally from South East London. I began playing lacrosse in 2021 with a local team, but it was not until I arrived at the canterbury campus in 2023 that I truly embraced the sport and committed to developing my skills.
At the fresher’s fair the lacrosse team were the first to approach me and offer genuine encouragement. Attending their training sessions, I found the team to be exceptionally welcoming and supportive, which motivated me to continue playing.
Lacrosse is a fast-paced sport where players use a stick with a net to pass and catch the ball, aiming to score in the opposing team’s goal. It is a very beginner-friendly sport, with most players having no prior experience before university. The inclusive and supportive environment helped myself and others on the team feel welcome and valued during our first year at Kent.
In November 2024, I was invited to a trial for the England Aspire University squad at Nottingham or Bath. I decided to participate and travelled to Nottingham, where I played alongside other hopefuls during a three-hour trial. With only 20 positions available and 35 candidates trialling across both locations, the competition was intense. By December, I was delighted to learn I had been selected for the preliminary squad of 26 players. From January to March, I attended training camps across the country, where our performance, communication, and teamwork were rigorously assessed. In April, I received confirmation that I had been chosen as one of the 20 players to represent England at the international Lisboa Cup in July 2025.
Being on the squad means a lot of travelling to weekend camps, which I often have to balance with my studies. I balance my time roughly 65% on studying and 35% on lacrosse. I always make sure my university work is done before matches or training, but playing gives me a much-needed break from my academic routine. Training with the Kent lacrosse team has been a great way to relieve stress and remind me why I love playing. Even when I am not training with Team Kent or the England Aspire Team, I keep fit with my partner by doing footwork drills, watch old matches, gym sessions, and attempting to eat healthily — although resisting the many sweet treats on campus can be a challenge!
Representing England Aspire has boosted my confidence, both on and off the field. It’s shown me that as a student-athlete and law student, I can achieve what I set my mind to. I’m now hoping to trial for the senior women’s development team and keep playing lacrosse after I graduate. My involvement in lacrosse has profoundly shaped my experience at the University of Kent. I have formed lifelong friends, gained unique experiences, and developed effective strategies for maintaining both my physical health and mental resilience. Playing lacrosse has been a rewarding and important part of my law degree experience.’
If you are new to Kent, come along to Kent Students’ Union Welcome Fair on Thursday 2 October 2025 and Friday 3 October 2025 to meet 250+ societies and sports clubs!
Thank you, Libby, for sharing your inspiring journey and photos — we look forward to seeing what you achieve next.