B.B.A. student, Life U Men’s Swimming and Diving team member

“Feeling Recognized for Accomplishment”

Rasmus Petersen represents a long legacy and tradition of international student-athletes expanding their academic, cultural and athletic horizons by competing for the Life University (Life U) Running Eagles. The Danish native grew up with four siblings, three brothers and one sister. He considers himself to be “a huge family person,” happy to spend time at home with his parents and siblings, watching movies instead of going out. Swimming was the family sport of choice, so Petersen practically lived in the water. He’s been competing since age 10, learning how to balance school and swimming, demonstrating dedication and drive with two morning practices a week.

In a sense, Petersen has spent much of his life swimming upstream, competing, learning and figuring out the next goal to achieve. But in his home country, it is common to take a gap year after graduating high school, to take some time to reflect and consider personal and professional aspirations for the future. Peterson took a gap year to travel and to work, finding that swimming competitively while working toward a comprehensive business education was what he wanted to pursue. He attended a business-focused high school, so it was a natural transition to consider.

While searching for U.S. swimming scholarships, Life U made its way to the top of the pile due to its growing swim program, enthusiastic coaches and compelling business program. Fast forward, and now Petersen is rounding out his third and final year learning and competing at this institution. He’s been excited to see the Swimming and Diving program develop from roughly 15 members across the Men’s and Women’s teams to now 40 active members total.

“It’s tough sometimes when you keep on practicing hard and the results don’t always show, but I just love practicing. I have always enjoyed it even more than competing sometimes,” Petersen said.

Regarding his studies, Petersen has relished the opportunity to learn from hands-on professors in intimate classroom environments so he can get valuable business world insight as well as develop a connection with professors that can guide him toward potential opportunities.

“Talking to the professors, getting more knowledge from the real world or just talking to them about something completely different helped me realize what I wanted to do or led me on the right track. Figuring out that I could actually do a project to help me financially and hopefully get into a good graduate school,” Petersen said.

“I really like that it’s a small school, so you can actually have a kind of relationship with your teacher instead of them just walking in and then walk out, and then you don’t have more of a relationship with your teacher.”

As an international student and to remain eligible to compete, Petersen will need to continue on to an in-person business graduate program. As he finishes up his time here at Life U, he reflects on the opportunities he has received that have built up his confidence, fueling him as he moves forward to amazing things.

One such opportunity came when he was recently awarded the Sigma Beta Delta General Scholarship, an honor awarded to only one student per member school. Sigma Beta Delta is an esteemed international honor society for business, management and administration that seeks to recognize dedicated students in this field.

“It was really nice, just the acknowledgement. The money is nice as well, but getting that acknowledgment after what you put into it to keep up your good grades is nice,” Petersen said.

Congrats on this and other successes sure to come your way, Rasmus Petersen!