Lyla Rouleau, a graduate of BFA-St. Albans joined the St. Michael's College Purple Knights women's tennis team, where she's found a great way to build friendships and stay active as she earns her degree in Environmental and Educational Studies.

Q&A with Lyla Rouleau

What inspired you to attend St. Michael's College? Currently, what inspires me to stay isn't necessarily the sport I play, but the educational aspect. Last summer, I traveled to Paris, France, after receiving a scholarship through the Center for Global Engagement, where I interned with a nonprofit organization called Veni Verdi.

I worked with students in lower-income areas of France. I helped the company build gardens on the rooftops of inner city buildings. With that, I decided to come back this semester and work in the Farm and Food Program at St. Mike's. We have a school farm here, and I'm currently studying in that program, taking a class to gain a deeper understanding of food systems and agriculture. 

In elementary school at the St. Albans City School, we conducted extensive studies on sustainability through the Farm to School Program. I would love to see that grow in the community, particularly in terms of community sustainability, and see how it can impact our community at a local level.

What will you remember most about working in France? I'll remember how different it was than where I came from. I grew up in a small town, where everything was within walking distance. Putting myself in an environment that was completely foreign to me, pushing through the challenge, and adapting to city life was insane for me. It was nothing I'd ever experienced before. I'm grateful for the unique experience of living on my own and overcoming the challenges of moving from a small town to a big city without family or friends' help.

What was your biggest takeaway from working with French students on the inner city rooftop gardens? I visited Montreal as a kid and took French classes, but I really had to pick up on non-verbal communication with kids. They can't tell me how they're feeling with the language barrier, so I had to start analyzing their facial expressions, making eye contact, and building trust without being able to communicate. I used gestures when speaking in English so they'd know what I wanted them to do. I had to show them what I wanted, which involved taking the time to demonstrate what I was doing. It was very interesting.

Some of the kids were bilingual. It was fun to talk with, say, a five-year-old who was bilingual and could translate for me and the kids. I was having such difficulty with it, and seeing them doing that was so inspiring.

What places did you visit while you were traveling? I visited various tourist spots in France while taking a class in architecture and urbanism. We went to the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and many other places. My boyfriend lives in Cologne, Germany, so I did some traveling in Germany. I was able to visit the Netherlands, both on the coast and in Amsterdam. It was nice to escape the city and visit the coast, a place we often go to as a family in the summer.

How did the opportunity to play tennis for St. Mike's shape your college career? I wouldn't have stayed in Vermont if I hadn't been interested in playing tennis at St. Mike's. I've made friends on my team who I know will be part of my future even after school. Playing tennis with them is like being part of a family, since you have to rely on each other.

I've had to make some sacrifices that not every student has to make. We joke that those who don't play a sport don't have to get up at 7 a.m. to lift, go to class, practice, and attend matches. I'm not the average student because I have goals and commitments to my team that require me to make a sacrifice for the good of everyone else.

How have your coaches helped you enjoy your college tennis experience? Our coaching staff has changed, but I'm grateful to the coach who brought me in and saw potential. My coach in my freshman year, Jason Hammel, helped me gain confidence to be a tennis player and a college student, and spread my wings. The one connection my coach made was that his wife was from the Missisquoi Valley Union area, and that made me feel like there was someone there who understood where I came from. He helped me feel at home while I was getting established at school. He also had a great relationship with my parents, so there was a strong line of communication.

What are some of your memorable moments in college tennis? I have many. When I started in this program, we were almost more of a club team. Our first coach was building the program from the ground up. Our coach this year really worked with us in my sophomore year to build up our skill level. He brought in a great recruiting class, and the program has really transformed. We were losing all of our matches, but this year, [we were] 4-0 for the first time in over 10 years. It's truly inspiring to see our program grow from the ground up over the three years I've been here. Jaylin Bedard and I came in after learning to play at BFA-St. Albans. We've come a long way and worked hard to get to where we are now. We're reaching a point where we can be really competitive with our opponents. We can thank our current coach, David Moore, for that; he stepped in and really helped us grow into good tennis players.

Do you have any advice for young athletes? When asked about my feelings on not leaving Vermont, I tell them that Burlington becomes another universe when you live here. I thought I'd be coming home every weekend and hating the winter. But I've loved being here in Burlington and being near the waterfront. I've learned that the area isn't just a place to go shopping; there's a whole community here. It's great to see the opportunities available right in your home state.

Do you have any thank yous to pass along? I want to thank my family for supporting me through the ups and downs of playing a college sport. I'm grateful to the Flanagan Family for the Jodi Flanagan Memorial Scholarship I received in high school, which helped support my education and overall well-being throughout my college experience. I'd like to thank my teammates from St. Mike's, Grace Saunders and Molly Gannon. I'd also like to thank my high school hockey coach, Luke Cioffi, and Stephanie Hodgeman, my high school guidance counselor. I probably wouldn't be where I am without them. There was a time when I wasn't sure I wanted to go to college, and I struggled with that decision. They assured me I could do it. I still go to Luke, who's close to my family and always has great insight. He always wants his current and former players to BELIEVE in ourselves.