What is the best thing about being part of the NESCAC?
The competition. In my time, every year we’ve had some of the best individuals and teams in the nation at the conference meet; it’s a fair bet that if you place high in the NESCAC, you’ll be competitive at NCAAs. You’re always being pulled up to a higher standard. Plus, since we see each other so often, most people know each other. You can use that for some extra rivalry-inspired fire, but it usually just means that if you’re at a Boston University meet and need someone to cool down with, you’ll have some extra options for company.
You have a blank canvas and could paint your perfect day, what does it look like?
It looks varied — I’d want a lot of different elements on it. There’s definitely some coziness in there and an easy run in nice weather. I’d want some athletic activity outside of running, too; maybe tossing a baseball or football. Ideally, it’d be a day where I can watch Bayern Munich play a soccer game in the morning and the White Sox in the evening, and obviously both would win.
Looking back on your college years, what are you most proud of? Individually, I’ve played only a small part in the team’s progression in my time at Amherst. Still, I’m really proud of how far we’ve come. Since my first year, we’ve talked about our lofty goals, both within and beyond the NESCAC. Seeing the shift from just talking about the goals, to making the necessary changes, to finally achieving some of them, has been totally rewarding.
What’s your go-to warmup song?
When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin)
What is something you enjoy doing that you never get tired of? Eating. I get tired of it after a little while, but a couple hours later I’m ready to get back at it. Whether it’s a team dinner after a hard practice, getting a hot dog at a baseball game, or just snacking on chips while watching YouTube, there’s always something to enjoy about good (or bad) food.
What has been your favorite class outside of your major?
It isn’t very far outside my major — it’s still a humanities class — but “Poems, Songs, and Stories” in the English Department with Prof. Geoffrey Sanborn exposed me to a totally new way of approaching a text. When we discussed a reading, we didn’t approach it directly through close analysis of the words, or even a broader structural overview — we just focused on how the piece made us felt. He was very clear about having us track the thoughts and feelings we were having, however nebulous they might be. I wasn’t ever used to such a personal way of approaching a text, and was pretty skeptical for the first few weeks. Soon, though, I discovered that this was a totally generative way of analyzing a text, and resulted in some fantastic insights about the words and structure. It was a totally different mode of thinking, but got to an equally satisfying result as the more ‘close-reading’ option.
Have you studied abroad during your collegiate experience?
I studied abroad in Berlin last spring and summer. It was a great experience — I took three fully integrated courses in the German Philology department, so really zeroed in on German studies. In my classes, we read everything from 15th-century school plays, to Goethe, to contemporary literature. Experiencing a completely new university system was really interesting and challenging. I’m grateful to be back speaking my native language in class now. Outside of class, I visited each of Berlin’s three opera houses as much as I could. So, I got plenty of experience for each of my two majors: German inside the classroom, Music outside.
What has been the most interesting part of your major?
In both Music and German, the wide variety of texts I’ve encountered has been the most interesting part. Most of the thanks for this goes to the professors: a good professor can make any text fascinating. Figuring out ‘what’s going on’ in a work is always a pleasure, especially when discussion is led well.
What is your favorite place on your campus?
There’s a room in Chapin, one of our academic buildings, called the Pemberton Lounge. It’s got comfortable couches and is always quiet. It’s got a good blend of cozy and a little spooky — the ideal autumn duo — which makes it the perfect place for a dusk discussion of a good book.
What is something you enjoy doing when not in class or competing in your sport?
Spending excessive time in Val or Frost — Amherst’s dining hall and library. The team usually occupies at least one or two tables in either location, so there’s always someone to talk to or argue with. Most nights in the library, we’ll push two big tables together to make a mega-table, which results in very little productivity, but plenty of heated conversations.
