Winning Big And Flying High

(Photo courtesy of UND Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences via UND Today)

(By Averie Eixenberger. UND Today) – College is challenging enough without having to juggle the intense schedule of an athlete with the complexity of flight training. But Irene Jirasevijinda, UND ’25, made it look easy, having competed as a D1 soccer player while earning her ratings and degree.

Originally from Thailand, Jirasevijinda found her passion for soccer after seeing some boys play at school during lunch. One day, she decided that she wanted to play, too, sparking an intense love of the sport.

“I immediately fell in love with it and all I look forward to everyday is playing soccer at school,” Jirasevijinda said. “From there, I joined my school soccer team and a club team back in Thailand, and I was always the only girl on the team. I love the sport because it gave me a sense of community, new friends, and it opened many doors to new opportunities throughout my life. Most importantly, I love it because it’s fun!”

Having discovered a love for soccer at 11, Jirasevijinda had a dream to play collegiate soccer in the U.S. So, she left her home country of Thailand to attend high school in California to improve her chances of getting recruited.