Major: Biology
Plans after college: Serve in the Army
Favorite VMI memory: I don't have just one favorite memory. One I remember is getting away with putting salt in my First Platoon Sergeant's water during Resurrection Week when I was a rat. People are just amazed when I tell them I did that. It was a rat mission! Or “dare” (for myself and from myself) as civilians outside of VMI would call it. Another was when I made the most of my birthday on May 14th, two days before graduation, when I was a 4th Classmen, having fun and not resting until I was completely exhausted (plus they had to put all the fun things away). But one memory that I remember being extremely too excited for (and you can ask everyone who worked with me that day) was the Rat Mass of 2019's Breakout Day. I served as an EMT for the rats at the school during the year, so when that day came, I was all too happy for them. I stayed with them for the majority of the day, and I couldn't help but express my joy around my fellow EMTs. They remember clearly how excited I was and couldn't understand why. It was as plain as broad daylight why I was so excited; we've worked with the Class of 2019 while they were rats all year, and that day they were finally going to blossom into something bigger: CADETS.
Goals for the upcoming seasons (both track and XC): For Cross Country, I want to break 20 minutes in a 5K. I've never gone below 20, and it is my ultimate goal to. If it's a 6K, well… I'll aim to break 25 minutes. My goal is to show improvement over the past two years. For Track & Field, my goal for this upcoming Track & Field season is to get 3rd place or better and/or a PR of 2:15 or better in the 800 whether it be in the Indoor or the Outdoor T&F season. But now that I have already scored, stepping up my game in my event is what I need to do next.
In terms of track, you took a big step forward last year during the outdoor season. What do you attribute that to? My coach, duh. I could go on and on about how I know he helped me come a long way…and I will. As time went on, and I came to realize he's believed in me like no other coach has before. I kept doubting my distance abilities, speaking aloud and saying I'm more of a sprinter/middle distance runner and less of a Cross Country kind of athlete, which is why I fall behind most of the time. This definitely became a mental issue as well. I became aware that it was silly to tell myself I couldn't do something when I was doing it anyway, and fully capable of becoming better. There were definitely rewards to Coach Drew's workouts, body strength training, and variable distance runs, and they were evident when I PRed in the 800 like I've never done before last year and scored for the team in the Indoor and Outdoor T&F season. The only explanation I can think of is Coach Drew. It was all him… and the mental motivation as a result of him coaching us.
What are some of the challenges, obstacles, issues, etc in going from the 5K/6K distance during XC season to the 400/800 during track? There's no huge problem whatsoever; it's a breeze! Hence the term though: “huge.” Going from a 5K/6K to the 400/800 is kind of easy, being that I'm transitioning to a shorter distance. Well, it's mentally easy for me, but it can be physically difficult to transition as well. Last year (3rd class, 2015-16), since I was primarily training for the 800 and Coach Drew saw my potential in it, I stayed with the distance crew throughout both T&F seasons, so I became pretty good at and could focus more on the 800 event. Doing so, I weakened my ability in the 400. I probably ran it once or twice during the Indoor season and three or four times during Outdoor, including a few times with the 4x400 meter dash team, and I still wasn't able to get below 60 seconds at any time (whereas during my 4th class year I did get below 60; then again, that was my primary event and I still hadn't scored). Getting better at one event can have its price with others, and I've accepted it.
Favorite movie/book and why: Okay, first I'll just say I have a favorite TV show I'm willing to put out there. My favorite TV show is “Impractical Jokers” on the TruTV channel. I absolutely LOVE them. If you have never seen the show before, check them out. Every time I watch them, they make me laugh. They add just a tad bit more joy to my life that really isn't describable. And since I told you that, I'll also just say that my favorite book would probably be any book by James Dashner. I read “The Mortality Doctrine” series of his and it is REALLY good. I plan to read “The Maze Runner” and “The 13th Reality” series of his next. His books are great because he describes the situations that take place really well and I find the dialogue between teenage characters in the book to be relatable to the age group because, I mean, I'm about that age too.
When you have an hour of free time, you like to…: Read read read. Books are wonderful things. Well, at the moment, I enjoy fiction books above all else. School books come last. Aside from reading, I love making music videos with other people's songs, no matter whether I'm free or not. I've made five good ones with my best friend and five videos featuring all of VMI Cross Country and T&F SoCons starting from Indoor T&F 2015. If you'd like to see them, don't hesitate to ask!
What sporting venue would you most like to visit?: I guess I'd like to visit a basketball or baseball game (and, of course, an XC or T&F meet), but if I were to actually participate in a sport, it'd be miniature golf or laser tag.
When surfing the Internet, what web site do you visit most frequently?: Google
Favorite sport to watch (other than T&F): Swimming races during the Olympics
If someone would look at the songs I have, on my IPOD or computer, I'd be embarrassed for them to see I have this song: “The Best Day Ever” from Spongebob Squarepants. I rarely listen to it, but this would definitely be the most embarrassing song for someone else to find.
If you could eat dinner with three other people, living or not, who would they be and why?: I'd eat dinner with my Uncle Gregory—my mom's little brother whom I've never met and passed away at the age of 14—because I would like to get to know him and see how he was like. My mom says he was loved by everyone, friends and family. I'd eat dinner with one or all of the members of the Impractical Jokers (Joe, Q, Murr, and Sal) because they're just so awesome and that would make my life. And last but not least, I'd eat dinner with Michelle Obama, because, well, who wouldn't? She's a great role model, and probably the most down-to-earth First Lady to have ever lived.
