Q&A WITH MAURA

Q: What would you consider the top moment of your college career?

I would consider the top moment in my college career to be taking the University of Washington to 5 sets in the second round of the NCAA tournament in the Spring 2021 season. After training and working hard in the midst of a pandemic, competing on the big stage and almost beating the 6th ranked team in the country was an incredible and unforgettable feeling.

Q: Who or What has been your biggest inspiration or motivation?

My biggest inspiration is Simone Biles. She is a confident and humble female athlete who displays immense passion for her sport. Additionally, I admire her ability prioritize herself and her mental health in the face of biggest stage of sports.

Q: What are three words your teammates would use to describe you, and why?

Passionate, loyal, and accountable. Passionate because I love the grind of college athletics and competing at a high level- I always bring energy and intentionality into the gym. Loyal because I would do anything to support the people in my life and will weather any storm with them. Accountable because I am not hesitant to hold others to their word and will do the same with myself.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received? The worst?

Two pieces of advice come to mind as the best. My parents always encouraged me to give 100% in whatever I choose to do in life- they would say "what is the point doing anything if you're not going to do it passionately and with everything you have?". The other advice was actually from 'The Last Dance'- Michael Jordan's teammates said that he would never ask them to do something that he wasn't already doing himself. My takeaway was that you earn the respect and influence as a leader by being the hardest worker in the room.

Q: What Was your favorite class/professor and why?

My favorite professor was Professor Johnston, who I took for Intro to Financial Management. I took him again in my final semester for a portfolio management class. Finance was my minor, so I didn't have much prior knowledge; however, he was the kindest and most caring professor I've had. He helped me with the material, helped me prep for job interviews, served as a character reference for job applications, and wrote me a recommendation letter for an award nomination.

Q: What are the top three things on your bucket list?

I actually have a bucket list in the notes app on my phone. The top three things are (in no particular order): learn to play the piano, see the northern lights, and learn sign language.

Q: What do you think is the most important issue for student-athletes today?

I think the most pressing issue for student athletes today surrounds the mental health conversation that we're seeing a lot. Specifically, I believe there is a lack of encouragement for student-athletes to create an identity outside of their given sport. This lack of a greater identity then leads to a warped perception of worth and instability of their mental health- all depending on athletic performance.