What is your preferred name and major?
Teryn and Kinesiology.
What are some of the jobs you held while at McDaniel?
I am a SASS tutor and the unofficial mom of the volleyball team.
What organizations were you a part of at McDaniel? What positions did you hold?
I was a member of the McDaniel Volleyball team and I was a co-captain of that team. I am also a member of Phi Beta Kappa
Did you enjoy your time at McDaniel? How?
Yes, it was a wonderful experience. The volleyball team became my sisters and we shared a lot of success and hardship together. I made some really wonderful friends because of my time here, including my best friend who I never would have met otherwise. Campus is gorgeous, and there are so many wonderful professors and faculty here who really helped me through some rough patches and encouraged me to keep working.
Who do you think is/was your best mentor(s)?
My coach Jess Wolverton was instrumental in my discovery of McDaniel as well as an amazing mentor and leader. She is such an amazing woman who taught me so many things about life. She always expects the best of us and pushed me personally to discover my strengths on and off the volleyball court. All of the professors in the Kinesiology department are wonderful instructors and caring people. They were understanding and helpful when I needed them to be and I like to think of them more as friends than anything else. And even though I only had her for one class, Dr. Staab was an exceptional teacher and helped to rekindle my curiosity and love of learning.
What is your best memory at McDaniel?
My best memory would have to be during my sophomore year when my team won the Conference Championship. That game went to a fifth set and the last couple of points were terrifying because the game could have gone either way. But when we got that last block and it sunk in that we had actually won, we rushed the court. Everyone was cheering and crying and hugging. It was an experience that I will never forget and will cherish for the rest of my life.
What were some of the challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?
The first challenge was being so far from my family. They’re in California and it was hard to be away from them and miss my siblings growing up. I overcame this challenge by learning to rely on others, particularly my team. They were always willing to give me a hug and listen to me brag about my little brother and sisters. I was also the only one on campus who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), which was quite difficult. I grew up in a large Mormon community, so it was a bit of a shock being on my own. But I was able to make friends who, even if they don’t share my beliefs, were true friends and accepted me despite our differences. The hardest challenge was during my junior year. I got a concussion before school started during volleyball practice. It lasted for six weeks, which meant that I couldn’t contribute to my team and made it hard to go to class and pay attention. All of my professors were incredibly understanding and made sure that I knew that my health was the first priority, which allowed me to focus on getting better instead of stressing about the tests I was missing. Dean Breslin was instrumental in that process and I couldn’t have done it without her, or Coach.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I will be coaching the JV volleyball team at my high school and preparing to enter grad school to pursue a career in occupational therapy.
What advice can you give to those not graduating?
Keep at it. Work hard and don’t give up. But also remember to have fun and relax every now and then. Go to sporting events, take walks around campus, and hang out with friends. It’s cliche, but your time here will go by in the blink of an eye.
Is there anything else you want to share with the McDaniel community?
Thank you for making my time at McDaniel memorable.
