When senior Hailey Beliew isn’t studying or working at the local library, she spends time fencing at the Central Arkansas Fencing Club in Little Rock. 

Beliew started fencing in February after a friend sent her information about local classes. She spends every Tuesday evening practicing and learning new skills.

“It’s such a fun sport and the group I fence with is great. I would have to say that fencing is probably the most interesting thing about me,” Beliew said. 

So far, Beliew has participated in one tournament and ended up tying for third place. She plans to keep up with the sport as long as she has the ability and place to.

Beliew’s favorite fencing styles are foil and sabre. The foil weapon is light and involves scoring by hitting the opponent in the torso with the blade tip. In sabre competitions, the target area is the waist up and fencers can thrust and cut the opponent. 

“Of the two of them I much prefer foil. I prefer it because it feels like something I have a better understanding of, even though I’m still learning,” Beliew said. 

Other than fencing, Beliew swam when she was younger and participated in marching band in high school. 

“I was on color guard and we spent so much time running around and dancing on the field that it has to count as a sport,” Beliew said. “I would say that I’ve enjoyed all of the [sports] I’ve done and appreciated them at different points of my life.”

The senior said that color guard and fencing remind her of each other because both of them require focus on footwork. 

“With fencing, I’ve learned that I have to stay dedicated to my goals. It may be difficult at first, but I have to keep practicing. I also have learned that I can’t go into [fencing] — or life — without some sort of plan and that I need to think ahead,” Beliew said. 

As far as education goes, Beliew is an English major with a minor in gender studies. A major interest for her is editing. 

“I went with English because I’d like to say I’m pretty good at writing. I also love reading so English felt like it was the best plan. I went with gender studies because it worked pretty well with English,” Beliew said. 

After she graduates in the spring, Beliew plans to expand her education with graduate school to get her master’s degree in library and information science.

Beliew currently works at the Faulkner County Library and hopes to stay in the library environment. 

“The more library experience I have, the better chance I have of being offered more. I love what I do and want to keep doing it,” Beliew said. 

Aside from writing for her classes, reading books she picks up from work or fencing each week, Beliew enjoys spending time with her two cats.