The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
NICOLE GRANT’S plate is always full.She is a psychologist, a weaver, a guitarist and a hockey forward who is dreaming of donning the senior hockey national team’s colours at the Hockey Africa Cup of Nations.
The 25-year-old Scorpions star is what you could call a Jill of all trades. And she tends to excel at whatever she puts her mind – and body – to.
“I wouldn’t trade any of the things I do for anything in the world,” says Grant who studied for a BA in Psychology, with a minor in English and Liberal Studies, at Limestone College in South Carolina in the United Staes.
“I work at Silver Linings School for Special Needs Education as an assistant teacher and I’m also the counselor there. I’m currently applying for my Masters in Clinical Psychology. My work at the school blends well with my other activities as I have the afternoons to coach hockey during the season and then my evenings are for club games. I am always busy but it’s worth it.”
Although Grant has a lot to deal with, one matter has been exclusively occupying her thoughts of late.
She wants to make her national team debut and has been working hard as the provisional squad prepares for the continental tournament that is scheduled for Namibia in June.
“To represent my country in a sport I’m so passionate about is an incredible privilege that I don’t take for granted,” Grant beams. “I’m definitely going to put in the work to try and make the final team that will travel. I would love to play and wave our flag in Namibia.”
The former Zimbabwe U18 girls is a real dynamo on the field.
“Well that’s very encouraging (the praise of her play), I’m humbled by that statement but there is always the need to work hard and be able to perform at the top level.
“I feel I had a good indoor season this year, my second year playing indoor hockey after a 6-year break. I was in the States for four years for university and before that I didn’t play indoor because it was just a social league and I focused more on field hockey,” says Grant.
With a Psychology background, one would expect Grant to be a queen of mind games. “I have mental routines I go through before a game and during short corners but it rarely involves unsettling the opposition, it’s just aimed at psyching myself up. And I try to keep the encouragement high when we are losing or in a tight game. But it’s always a conscious effort to stay mentally tough,” she says.
Away from psychology and hockey, Grant finds time to indulge in her hobbies.
“I play the guitar and ukulele, and make hand-made baskets and bags when I have the free time to. Oh, and I’m also learning photography as a hobby,” she smiles.
