Premier is excited to announce that Laina Nelson will be joining our staff this August as an office administrator. Read below to learn more about Laina!
What has most drawn you to the field of sport psychology?
What has drawn me to sport psychology is my experiences growing up with a love for sport, as well as being a performer. I was a three-sport athlete throughout high school and spent the rest of my time in the fine arts and performing and writing music. I find sport psychology fascinating; it merges my love for sport and performance, while advocating for mental health and well-being, as well as prioritizing the ability to reach optimal performance. It is extremely intriguing and I cannot wait to continue to learn and grow within the field!
What sport do you enjoy playing the most? Watching the most?
As a three-sport athlete, I love playing volleyball, basketball, and softball in equal amounts. I was even in an all-female boxing club in college. But I think my favorite to participate in now is definitely basketball; it’s a sport that can stay with you forever! When it comes to watching sports, I completed my undergraduate career at North Dakota State University, so I bet you could guess that football is my favorite to watch. Go Bison!
Outside of the “basic” or “standard” apps on your phone, if you could only choose to have 3, what would they be?
I would choose the MyPlate app (it is great for tracking macros!), Spotify (to listen to my favorite music/podcasts), and probably Pinterest (to keep up with creativity and motivation).
What trend do you hope makes a comeback?
To be honest, I am a huge fan of the 1990s fashion trends.. well mostly what Rachel Greene wears on Friends. I love crewnecks, the updos, camo pants. But these days, anything is fashionable!
Describe your ideal weekend?
My ideal weekend would be spent at the lakes with family and friends. Nothing is better than being out on the lake on a sunny day and then coming back home for a grill-out, fishing, yard games, and spending time around a campfire!
Have you ever met a famous person/What’s your claim to fame?
A famous person I have met, and sang with, is Colton Dixon. He was an American Idol contestant during season 11. He was one of my all-time favorites even after the show was done. He was performing at a local event a couple summers ago and my boyfriend and I decided last minute to go and ended up meeting him. He is an incredibly humble, down-to-earth guy and was cool enough to sing his original song “Never Gone” with me!
If you could only watch 3 movies for the rest of your life, what would they be?
The Notebook, the Sixth Sense, and Finding Nemo. It would be the ultimate balance of a little bit of everything!
What quote inspires you the most/Who (in your life) inspires you the most?
One of my favorite quotes is “Grow through what you go through.” It’s a reminder that facing adversity and other obstacles is an opportunity to learn and grow into who you want to become, and that you’re unstoppable.
If you weren’t going into sport psychology, what would you do?
If I had to choose a different path to follow, it would be music. I grew up singing the National Anthem at sporting events, performing at community events, and other establishments. I have been writing music since junior high and found a passion in the lyrical part of musical production through professional vocal clinics, auditions, and performing at different venues in the United States.
What are you a “closet fan” of?
Video games… I grew up with a brother who loved games and I was always the younger sibling who would watch. Also, growing up we used to have “Family Rockband nights” and we would play Rockband on the Xbox 360, touring the world as a family (haha, my mom is still proud of scoring 100% singing ‘Dead or Alive’ by Bon Jovi). So I grew to be a fan of all types of games. You’ve got to appreciate and respect the storylines and what people can come up with!