What made you decide to commit to College of Charleston?
There were several factors that made me decide to commit to the College of Charleston. I visited several schools and out of all the places I visited, this was the place that I felt the most at home and welcomed by the team. My older brother goes to the college, and he has had a great experience there, and it feels good to follow in his footsteps. My mom works at the college too.
The last reason is affordability. Eventually I would like to become a doctor, and medical school does not come at a cheap price. It does not make a whole lot of sense for me to spend a bunch of money on a private out of state college, and have to take loans out for graduate education.
What were your other top choices?
My other top choices where Furman, Davidson, and Emory. College of Charleston was the only state school I was really considering.
What do you hope to achieve in academics and athletics?
In athletics, I hope to continue to do what I have been doing in high school: getting faster, and having fun doing it. In academics, I want to keep my grades high so that i can go to medical school.
What did you experience during each visit?
The official visits are the best way to really see what each college is all about. A guided tour will tell you about how pretty the campus is and how much the school costs, but a visit lets you know more about the people at the school and team. It really gives you an insight into the culture of each place, and how you can fit in into it.
What would you recommend to others when choosing a college?
It may be a little early for me to say for sure, but what I have taken away from my search is this: you have the ability to be successful wherever you go. This being said, it is important to pick the place that you feel that you feel like you will fit the best, where you have a good time while getting the best education you can.
What does it feel like to have the decision made?
It feels great. I had the opportunity to look at many great schools, and I am extremely happy with my choice. I think it was really important for me to explore all of my options so that I could feel good about the choice I made and this is exactly what I did. I now am confident that I made the best choice for me.
What do you hope to achieve this spring?
This spring I'm looking to have a good track season with a few good PR's (4:20 mile, 9:35 two mile), but most importantly to enjoy my last season as a high school athlete. I'd like to bring home a few individual wins at state again as well.
How do you plan to train for the upcoming track season?
Before I do any more training, I'll take a little time off just to make sure I'm staying healthy, then I'll start back with some distance runs and hopefully get a few weeks at 60 miles before the season gets underway. Then I'll add in some speed work to get some extra strength.
Looking at your career at Academic Magnet, what will you remember the most?
Looking back on my time running for Academic Magnet, I think I will most fondly remember my sophomore season that ended in the team state championship. It was my first xc state championship, and for this reason it will probably remain one of the most special to me.
What individuals in your life were involved in helping you make the decision?
There are definitely countless people who have helped me make this decision, but most importantly were coach Brian Johnson, who has not only helped me with training, but really guided me through the college decision process, my parents, who drove me to many college tours and visits, and my brother, who attends the College of Charleston now.
