Everyone knows about the academic rigor of being a top Oberlin student and the physical energy it takes to be a college athlete, but imagine doing both. Imagine being a double degree, double major, dual-sport athlete. That makes a lab assignment or game-winning goal seem easy. But this is the life of senior field hockey and lacrosse player, Hannah Christiansen.
 
Christiansen is earning a degree in violin performance through the conservatory, and is a history and French double major, with a concentration in medieval studies. Try saying that three times fast. Although the schedule is strenuous, and there is little down time, Christiansen manages to excel in all aspects, academically and athletically.

"I think that sports and music are closely related," said Christiansen. "The attention to detail required for violin is the same kind of focus needed in athletics. Music and athletics complement each other in a way that helps me improve in each individually."
 
For Christiansen, Oberlin was an opportunity to pursue all of her passions. She has been playing the violin since she was three years old and pursuing her music education at the highest possible level was an opportunity that could not be turned down.
 
"I have the opportunity to do three things I am very passionate about," said Christiansen, "so if I didn't do all three, I would be short changing myself. The struggle is less about time management and more about putting equal effort into all of them. But the effort comes a little easier because academics, music and athletics are all things that I love and enjoy, and if I didn't, I wouldn't do them."
 
As a student of the conservatory, Christiansen has many obligations outside of class. This year she will be participating in the Coeur d'Alene, which is a young artist national competition. The competition requires participants to send in auditions, and then the top few get to go to Washington and compete. On top of the competition, she has her junior recital to prepare for.
 
"The recital involves a lot of extra practice time, and a lot of individual preparation, but I am really excited to perform."
 
Originally, Christiansen was interested in pursuing an independent major in medieval studies, but then decided to broaden her studies. "I knew I was going to major in French because I took a lot of French classes in high school, and I knew I wanted to continue to pursue the language."
 
"Medieval literature has always been interesting for me, but I realized that this was too narrow a major to pursue. I decided to continue studying medieval history, but within a broader historical scope."
 
While academics and music are primary focuses, Christiansen always finds time for athletics. Last winter term, she went to Baltimore and worked for Inside Lacrosse, a magazine owned by ESPN, and specifically with the ilwomen.com sub section. Christiansen was responsible for producing and editing lacrosse season previews, player interviews, and she even had her own article published.
 
"It was such a fun opportunity to work with ESPN and focus on lacrosse at the same time."
 
This past summer, Christiansen continued her pursuit of lacrosse, and returned home to Williamstown, Mass. to coach an elite lacrosse club featuring numerous girls who had committed to play at Division I schools.
 
On top of lacrosse, Christiansen is a vital member to the field hockey team. Due to injury last season, Christiansen had to red shirt, but this season she is back in action, and making an impact in the defensive end.
 
"Field hockey has been coming together in a way that we have not in previous seasons," Christiansen said, "we are producing a lot more offense than in the past, and have a really strong group of freshmen. We have had many close conference games, and unfortunately dropped a few in the last minute, but I anticipate that the second half of the season will bring more wins."
 
For Christiansen, her time at Oberlin has been about finding a balance amongst all her commitments, but is experience she wouldn't trade for anything.