Queen’s Law students are accustomed to points of law. Third-year student Kyra Dorfman is well-versed in points of another kind – having maintained a passion for fencing through her law school career. With epee and sabre as her weapons of choice, she is the women’s team captain of the Queen’s Varsity Fencing Club, and led her team to win gold at the Carleton Invitational Tournament in January. Using exceptional time management and more than a decade of fencing experience, she balances leadership, fencing, school, and being an integral part of the Queen’s community.
“My favourite thing about fencing is that it takes all of your mental and physical concentration,” Dorfman says. “It doesn’t let you worry about whatever else is happening in your life, because you have to pay attention to this moment, this bout, this opponent, or you’re going to lose or someone is going to get hurt. It’s one of the best ways to take a break from school or work.”
Fencing is no small commitment. Practices run three times a week, in addition to weekly coaches meetings and monthly meetings with the Varsity Leadership Council. The team competes in four tournaments in addition to the Men’s and Women’s Championships. Often, students travel for tournaments.
“It really comes down to time management,” she says. “If you want to make time for the obligations of a sports team then you will. It’s definitely doable, and if it’s something you’re interested in then you should give it a shot.”
Having fenced for more than 11 years in the GTA and throughout high school, attending a university that had a fencing club was an important factor to her decision to go to Queen’s Law.
“Fencing is made up of people from all faculties and from different levels of study. It’s a great way to meet people you otherwise would never be in the same room with,” she says. “Fencing also lets you meet people from other schools and even from other countries, since some of the tournaments draw international athletes. Overall, fencing is a community, and I think that it’s important to be part of something that goes beyond just being a law student or a lawyer.”
By Sarah McCarthy