Q: Why did you choose the Tribe?
In attempt to be as unbiased as possible... William & Mary fit the criteria of my dream college. A gorgeous campus, a strong academic history, and a rockin' tennis team were major factors to my decision. I would love if the school was called William & Mary School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, but that might have been too perfect.
Q: Describe a moment when you felt the most Tribe pride...
During matches, when I take a mental break and look around, I get people bumps. My teammates and I are all battling for the same goal and I think to myself, 'What we're doing here...this Tribe tennis thing...it's pretty amazing.'
Q: Take us through your pre-game mental preparation routine:
During warm-up I like to visualize myself playing perfect points. This is really the only time that I get to hit backhand winners up the line, and I relish these mental moments of triumph dearly.
Q: What are some community activities you or your team have done?
We took part in the NEDA walk (coming in dead last), and participated in a wheelchair tennis event. I've never been prouder of our hour and thirty minute 5 kilometer race time.
Q: What is your intended or declared major and why?
My declared major is International Relations. Hostile and peaceful interactions between nations are intriguing to me. War (on any scale) is drama. I'm not the grandest fan of drama. Studying alternatives to war is my equivalent to working on a super cool expert level Sudoku puzzle.
Q: Describe your dream job:
My dream job is one that makes other people's lives more bearable.
Q: If you could play another sport at W&M what would it be and why?
Soccer! I played from the age of 5 to 13. My recreational soccer team's name was 'The Wolf Pack' and we were borderline professional as far as I'm concerned. A wolf pack embodies the same elements as the Tribe, so I feel like the transition would be rather seamless.
Q: Favorite team tradition/activity and why?
I enjoy our daily teasing battles. Hope (Johnson) and Nina (Vulovich) usually rein supreme as the Queens of wit and banter, but I love to see underdogs Jeltje (Loomans) and Marlen (Mesgarzadeh) score language points during practice. Jeltje wins 2 percent of the time.
Q: Which teammate will have the most interesting job in 10 years and why?
Tough question. I'm going to hand this prize to Sydney (Smith). I envision Sydney doing something spectacular 10 years from now because she'll nail every interview in the first 30 seconds. From hosting So You Think You Can Dance, to becoming the most fun-sized astronaut to moonwalk on every single one of Jupiter's rings, practically any job is realistically within Sydney's reach.
Q: What animal would best describe you and why?
I have to go with lioness. The lioness is fierce when she needs to be (predominantly when chasing gazelles or defending her cubs) and laid-back when she can afford it. I'm similar in both regards...minus the chasing of the gazelles.
Q: What is your favorite quote or phrase?
"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself" - George Bernard Shaw.
Q: What is your favorite type of food (i.e. Chinese, Mexican, etc.)?
My mom's home cooked meals and all of her breads. I'm particularly fond of her lamb meatballs. I know it sounds cruel, but I'm a lioness.
Q: Favorite place you have visited or traveled to and why?
Last winter break I traveled to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica with my family. We went white-water rafting and the sights were breathtaking. It was one of those rare moments when Mother Nature gets to show off a little bit and you're completely enamored of Earth.
Q: If you could sit down for lunch with anyone in the world who would it be and why?
My siblings, because there is never a dull moment between us.
Q: Most addicting television show?
I don't watch television; however, I do enjoy the occasional episode of Modern Family.
Q: How will you change the world (or even just one person's world)?
How will I change the world? By being myself.
Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know...
I love musicals. (Especially ones in which my sister, Alexa, plays a fun role.)
Q: What was your most-commented Facebook post?
Hope and I must share the same response to this question. Hope, Jeltje, and I played the chocolate bar game on a post Meredith was tagged in. I think we successfully kept her phone buzzing with notifications for a solid hour.
Q: What's number one on your bucket list and why?
I'd love to be at a World Cup with my family and watch both Spain and USA play live. Besides the Olympics, I think the World Cup is the single most fantastic sporting event in the world.
Q: What is your best non-athletic skill?
Making people smile. (I was going to say ping-pong, but then I realized that might fall under the category of athletic...)
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve and why?
Bullying is my biggest pet peeve. Kids who are hurtful to other kids for no particular reason really gets under my skin...where are their legal guardians??!
Q: What is something you are afraid of?
Losing people I care about.
Q: What is an obstacle you had to overcome in your life?
I have not had to endure any difficult obstacles thus far. My teammates would encourage me to 'knock on wood' after typing that sentence, but I'm not incredibly superstitious. If and when an obstacle approaches, I can be assured that my support network of friends and family will be there to help me through it.
