Dear Phoenix Club Member,

Thank you for your gift supporting Elon Athletics! My name is Megan Grant, and I am a senior softball student-athlete from Roanoke, Virginia. I am a double major in Psychology and Sociology, with a minor in Criminal Justice Studies. I am thrilled and honored to share some of my Elon journey and express my sincerest gratitude for the support of donors!

Because of the financial support I receive, I can be a part of this incredible university while also living out my childhood dream of playing Division I softball. From the moment I stepped foot on campus, I knew Elon was going to be my future home. From the beautiful campus and facilities to the small classroom size, I knew Elon was where I wanted to be for all four years of college.

With this Elon Day theme being titled “Rising to the Challenge,” recognizing my ability to overcome obstacles in order to achieve success is crucial. The sport of softball is truly a game of failure. To put this into perspective, getting a hit 33% of the time is considered successful. Softball has taught me that in order to grow and learn, I must fail. Failure can be very scary and prove to be a large obstacle in terms of reaching my goals. I have overcome obstacles like this through the help of my coaching staff because they have taught me to use my mistakes as an opportunity. Mistakes and failure are not only a part of this game, but they are a part of life. In the many instances I have faced adversity, I have learned the only way to overcome it is to stand tall, work hard, and trust the process. For example, in my sophomore year, we were playing a tournament at UNC. I was up to bat and had the opportunity to win the game for the team. Instead, I froze and struck out looking. After that at-bat, I told myself I would never be timid in the box again. The next day, I was put in the same exact position when we were playing against UConn. Instead, this time I hit in the game-winning run. Sometimes, it is all about perspective and the will to keep fighting when given the opportunity.

Elon has provided me the opportunity to learn, grow, and strive on the field as well as a student in the classroom. This past year, I have been selected by one of my professors to write a chapter in a sociological book he is publishing. In the chapter, I will incorporate the research I did in his class regarding criminology theory. Also, I am conducting research on college students’ fear of crime in my senior seminar course. After graduation, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Policy and Leadership in hopes to become a federal law enforcement officer. Specifically, my goals are to find a career with the U.S. Marshals. Therefore, research within the criminal justice field is extremely important to me, and Elon provides me the opportunity to not only conduct this research but understand these perspectives through a global lens. Despite the rigor of balancing two undergraduate degrees, research, and time devoted to my sport, I have maintained an almost perfect GPA of 3.98 my entire college career.

Thank you for helping student-athletes like me live out our dreams and achieve our greatest potential. With your gift to Elon Athletics, you directly provide us with the opportunity to succeed not only in our sport, academic careers, but also our life. The unmatched lessons and opportunities that Elon provides us allow us to grow not only as individuals, but professionals as well. Without the scholarships I have received, I would not be where I am today striving to make a difference in the world. To say I am grateful would be an understatement. Thank you for your generosity, kindness, and belief in Elon student-athletes.

Go Phoenix!

Megan Grant