Photo Credit: Dyne Hong
Intramurals is a vital part of the UBC experience, we want to highlight the individuals who make these activities possible. Meet Sophia, a fifth-year psychology student and a leagues Assistant Director with UBC Recreation. Learn about her journey and the impact UBC Intramurals had on her university experience.
Interview with Sophia
Can you start by telling us your role as an Assistant Director with UBC Recreation?
“Yeah, so an Assistant Director is kind of the main role in Intramurals, and it’s definitely what people start with. They oversee the running of each league. They’re the people who are there signing you in, setting things up, and scheduling refs. They’re pretty much doing all the emailing and communication. There are anywhere from 4 to 8 Assistant Directors on each crew, and each crew is in charge of a different league. Each crew also has a Director who oversees the Assistant Directors.”
Photo Credit: Dyne Hong
How did you get involved with UBC Intramurals?
“The opportunity came during my second year of university. I realized I wasn’t really making friends in my classes—I was pretty shy back then. I saw an ad somewhere for an opening in the soccer league, so I just applied. The director at the time called me, I got the position, and that was kind of it. From there, it completely changed my university experience.”
What is the main thing that made you stay working in UBC Rec all these years?
“I would say the community I found through UBC rec has been really meaningful. UBC is a big school, and especially in psychology, it’s such a large faculty that it can sometimes feel hard to stay connected. The recreation office became a place where I could go to have lunch or chat with someone if I needed to. It’s like a little community, and that made me feel grounded at school.”
What does finding community on campus mean to you?
“I think it means that I will like take more from my UBC experience. It’s not just like the academic part of school that I’ll miss when I graduate or think back on in 20 years. I’ll think of a lot of friends, and I’ll think of the experiences I had playing in intramural leagues with them. It’s a kind of nice feeling when I think about UBC.”
What is something you’d like to share about your UBC experience?
“For incoming students, I feel like something which is really important is mental health, and in university, there can be stressful times. Intramurals allowed me to push myself. So, I think going out of your comfort zone is beneficial; this is a great time in life to do it. With Intramurals, you’re always supported, so you’re never alone, even if you’re challenging yourself or stressed or worried. There’s so many people to back you up. It’s lovely. I would recommend it to anyone.”
Check out a quick segment from the interview below or on our Instagram page:
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Applications for Intramural Volunteer Staff positions for the 2025/26 academic year are now live! If you’re eager to join the Intramural Volunteer Staff community as an Assistant Director, please visit our website! For any inquiries, feel free to contact the Intramural Program Development team at im.prod@ubc.ca.