Jen and Julia Osmond, twin sisters on UNA’s soccer team, are not your average southern belles. The Osmond sisters are in their fifth year at the university after moving from their home in Southampton, England.

“We both played for a college back home where Graham (Winkworth), who was our original head coach, recruited us,” Jen Osmond said. “It was a dream since we were about 12 to 13 to play soccer in America in favor of our education.”

Jen Osmond, a sports management major, and Julia Osmond, a fitness management major, both work heavy schedules playing soccer, attending classes and working at World of Wings in the Student Recreation Center.

“We work, hang out with our friends and try to visit as many cities as we can,” Julia Osmond said. “We’ve visited Chicago, Washington (D.C.), Vegas, New York.”

Both agree Vegas has been their favorite city so far.

“I like big cities,” Jen Osmond said. “Obviously England is different than America because it’s a lot more populated. Whenever I go to cities I feel more comfortable. Don’t get me wrong; this is a small city but if I got a good job here, I’d feel comfortable. It’s the perfect college town.”

The Osmond sisters used to visit their families in England every summer and Christmas, they said. This year, both had summer jobs and classes that kept them from returning. 

“This summer I did summer school and I coached camps,” Julia Osmond said. “We also train in the summer. Training in the heat is the biggest difference. We get to do heat training here whereas at home, you know, it’s cold.”

Both sisters said that if they were not involved in soccer, they would not have enough to do. 

“It’s a bit quiet, really, for me,” Jen Osmond said. “But with soccer, work and school, it’s been perfect. There’s enough to do where I’m never bored, but if I didn’t push myself to have a job and to take extra classes and to play soccer – if I was just a student here, I would be bored. People are content with just sitting in and doing nothing. That’s not me. I’m more of a social, ‘go out and find something to do’ kind of person.”

After graduation, neither sister plans to return to England. Jen Osmond plans to stay in Florence and, later, branch out and explore America and the job market more. Julia Osmond, however, wants to move even further south.

“I’d like to move to West Palm or Miami,” Julia Osmond said. “I want to be a Florida girl – beaches and pools. I like Florence but… there’s more to do for a family (there) than in Florence. Even though Florence is a very safe place (for a family).”

When it comes down to it, Jen and Julia Osmond are no different than the average senior at UNA.

“It’s not been a bad four and a half years,” Jen Osmond said. “It’s been fun. It’s been good and it’s been nice, but I’m ready to graduate.”