Allison lee: gap year

Allison Lee, who plays on a top 50th ranked women’s doubles duo team for badminton in the world, has been balancing a professional badminton career with school for most of her life now. With the end of high school in sight, Lee has decided to take a gap year in Korea in order to focus purely on training badminton. “My long term goals have always been to reach top 10 in the world and to qualify for and medal at the Olympics,” Lee said. “Taking a gap year gives me time to work towards achieving my goals, especially the Olympics goal, since the Olympic race for badminton is from May 2023 to May 2024. Although my partner and I are trying to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics, it’s equally important for me to gain experi- ence and develop into a stronger player. Going to col- lege and simultaneously training and competing would have been a massive struggle.”

Taking a gap year in Korea affords Lee opportunities she otherwise wouldn’t have in America. “I’m going to spend a lot of my gap year in Korea for some intense training and sparring that’s harder to get in the U.S.,” she said. “Our coach, who was formerly number one in the world for men’s doubles, is based in Korea, so it’s easier for me and my partner to get training there rather than in the U.S.”

After the gap year, Lee still has plans to pursue an education. “I’ll be taking some online courses during my gap year to stay sharp for when I start college,” Lee said. “I’m committed to Santa Clara University at their Leavey School of Business after my gap year. I’m really excited to go there because it lets me stay close to home, which allows me to continue practicing at my club. Also, I’ll be close to a lot of my family and friends.”

Lee is excited to continue pursuing her interest in the sport and plans to do so long after her gap year. “I would like to play competitively until I’m satisfied with my accomplishments, which will maybe be my late 20s or early 30s. But I’ll be playing for fun for the rest of my life; it’s just the best sport in the world to me. I really just want to do what I love the most and that’s playing badminton, and it’ll always be a part of my life.”

—Written by Kenneth Soh