Transfer Student Raina Perez Talks Basketball, Online Learning Amidst COVID

YFCS graduate certificate student Raina Perez made NC State proud when she scored the winning shot with two seconds left on the clock in the finals of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 7.

Perez has played every sport imaginable from the time she was born. The hardworking star made the difficult decision to focus all efforts on basketball at the age of 12. From then on, her pursuit in competitive basketball has been successful. Perez is a member of the North Carolina State University Women’s Basketball Team and says, “Playing for NC State Women’s basketball team has been a year like no other. With COVID-19 upon us, the team has had to stick together and push through this year. We all get along well and we have each other’s back which is why we have been so successful this year. In continuation, connecting with basketball alums has helped widen my network for future opportunities.” Perez’s strong determination, spirit, and work ethic exemplifies the strong characteristics needed to succeed on a team, and more importantly, with the Wolfpack. 

Perez’s success is not limited to her time on the court.  She transferred to NC State’s  Youth, Family, and Community Sciences Program in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences. She has expressed great joy in her experiences both academically and socially.

“Transferring from California State University to NC State in the summer of 2020 was no easy task,” Perez states. “My time here at NC State has been a different experience. The academic program here has motivated me to learn more about myself through a different lens. Although I haven’t been able to meet many students in person due to COVID-19, I’ve connected with a few students from my classes, which has been really fun!”  

The YFCS graduate program has impacted Perez significantly. She attributes the program with providing her, “a solid foundation of leadership skills not only as a student, but as an athlete as well.”

After completing the YFCS graduate certificate program, Perez plans on applying to the YFCS master’s program and plans to graduate with her master’s degree in May 2022.