You may have noticed coach and PE teacher Laura Bishop and student Laura Benignus (10) together around OHS. What you may not have known is that they are related, as Bishop is Benignus’ aunt.
“Yeah, we’re pretty close, I’d say,” Benignus said.
While Bishop and Benignus don’t see each other in a classroom setting, they see each other quite often when it comes to after school sports. Regardless of this, it doesn’t stop Benignus from feeling pressure from her aunt in the classroom.
“Sometimes [there’s more criticism]. It just depends on what’s happening, like if I got a bad grade,” Benignus said.
With attending the same school as her aunt, Benignus feels she has to be on her best behavior while at school, which can be challenging for her.
“…She knows everyone, and everything I do gets back to her,” Benignus said.
Despite Bishop and Benignus attending the same school together, they tend to keep their school and home relationship separate, creating what Benignus believes is a good balance between their home and sport lives.
“Yeah basically, we don’t talk a lot about school at family events,” Benignus said
Even though Bishop and Benignus keep their home and school life separate, Benignus does tend to feel more pressure than other student-athletes on the court and track.
“I feel like I have to try harder than others, especially if she’s watching,” Benignus said.
Some may think that Benignus might get special treatment because of her relation to the coach, but she disagrees.
“She’s usually more hard on me,” Benignus said, “especially when she’s in a bad mood.”
Although Benignus feels more pressure and criticism from her aunt, she still is able to maintain a strong relationship with her, and her shared love for sports with her aunt has continued to grow their relationship.
“Being together more has made us close,” Benignus said. “I like being able to see her at school whenever I want.”
