Interviewed by Sophie Marcum
Hannah graduated from BHS in 2012 and will graduate college this spring. She took the time to reflect on her experiences in college and share her ambitions for the future with us.
Where do you attend school and what are you studying?
I go to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I am a Biology major with minors in Exercise Science, Coaching, and Honors.
How did you decide on this field of study?
Although my academic interests lie mostly in exercise science, I chose the Biology/pre-med track because I enjoy a challenge and I didn’t want to close off the possibility of physical therapy or sports medicine down the road. If I do choose to go to grad school, my biology major has prepared me well.
In five years’ time, where would you like to see yourself or know you have accomplished?
I hope to have used at least some of the next 5 years for service. After I graduate, I am hoping to do at least year in an intentional community/service program called “Dwell” (through the DOOR program) in Atlanta.
Since 2020 is an Olympic year, a big goal of mine is to run semi-professionally and to qualify for the Olympic Trials in Oregon. As a young high schooler, fellow BHS alum Ann Alyanak (who qualified for the trials in the marathon) opened my eyes to this possibility. I am currently talking to coaches to determine which running group I would like to join. One I am considering is the Atlanta Track Club, coached by Olympians Amy and Andrew Begley. They are a relatively new group, but are already developing a strong core of middle distance athletes.
Finally, I hope to have entered a graduate program - University of Pennsylvania or Michigan, maybe - in public health or exercise science. I hope to get a graduate assistantship with a team at the university so that I can test out collegiate coaching.
Do you have any goals for your senior year of college?
So far, senior year has been the best one yet. I hope to continue to nurture relationships with my housemates and take time to enjoy what a gift it is to be where I am. I want to ward off senioritis and stay on top of my organic chemistry homework. I’d like to complete my senior research on the stress hormone cortisol - first in musicians, then in track athletes) - and produce an original paper. Finally, I would like to win an NCAA title on the track and be an All-American in XC.
Outside of the classroom, what are you involved with on campus?
I attend Shalom Mennonite Church. I live in an intentional community theme house on EMU campus. We are called “Bridge House” and our goal is to “bridge the gap” between freshmen and seniors.
We host parties, small groups, and potlucks open to anyone a few times a month. Each week I do Big Brothers Big Sisters. I have been meeting with my little, Jaymily, since 2012. She is a fireball, but I love her. A teammate and I started a track club called “FLASH” for 10-12 year olds, which meets twice a week in the spring. I serve on EMU’s Presidential Search Committee, where we are currently receiving applications for EMU’s next president.
You’ve been incredibly active with you’re running at EMU, what have been some highlights over the seasons?
The best part of my collegiate running experience has been being on a team with some of my best friends. My favorite times are when the team does better than expected: setting school records in the DMR and 4 by 4 were awesome moments. I have such fond memories of fall break trips, cheering on teammates as they reach their goals, awkwardly asking running celebs for their autographs, and giggling over free tea refills in hotel lobbies.
I can easily say that the most joyful moment of my running career to date was at regionals in cross country my sophomore year. After a disappointing freshman year that culminated in foot surgery, I felt scared that my best running days were behind me. Once I was allowed to start training again in August, I threw my heart and soul into it. I released all the internal pressure that had been building up in my mind since high school and allowed myself to just enjoy the challenge of self-improvement.
At regionals, I had a crazy race in which I got very disoriented and sort of collapsed/lay down in the middle of the course 30m from the finish line. Luckily, the guys team was lining the course right beside me, and all I remember is them yelling at me, “Get up! You aren’t finished.” I somehow dragged my legs up and stumbled to the line, just barely grabbing the last qualifying spot to NCAA’s. When I found out that I had qualified, I started running to find my coach and tell him, but I felt so overwhelmed that I sat down in the middle of the field and started crying. It’s such a happy memory that will stay with me forever.
In high school, I dreamed of running 2:09.77, the OHSAA DIII 800m record. That number ran through my head for at least 4 years before I finally broke through, finishing the season with a new PR of 2:08.92. Interesting side note: In this race, I was running against Molly Ludlow who ran a blistering time of 1:59, becoming the first woman to break 2 minutes on Tennessee soil. The energy coming from the crowd was so palpable. What fun!
Although reaching that goal was a huge milestone, I’ve actually been more excited about my progress in the mile. My 7th grade mile time of 7:35 improved to 6:24 in 8th grade. My first sub-6 was freshman year (5:47). As a junior, I ran cross country for the first time and managed to pull out a 5:13. I broke 5 minutes as a sophomore in college, running 4:58 (converted from 1500). Last year, I ran 4:47 en route to earning All-American honors for the first time!
Can you share some of your reflections looking back on your time in college thus far?
My advice to young people is to set high goals and pursue them as if they’re reasonable. Approach your dreams with self-confidence and excellence, because you never know how high your ceiling might be.
In addition, the biggest thing that I’ve discovered is that it can take a lot of time to find “your people” in college. Everyone says that college will be the best years of your life, but that really depends on who you’re with. If things aren’t going well, don’t tune life out! Freshman year was really hard for me, as I often felt lonely. As time went on, however, I met new people who ultimately became my best friends. Surrounding yourself with uplifting people makes every day special.
Also, unless you’re trying to get into a prestigious med school, don’t kill yourself trying to maintain a 4.0. Every once in a while, a discussion that lasts until 2 am might be worth more than cramming for that exam. That being said, sleep is literally magical so make sure you do that.
Have you acquired any life skills you did not expect to gain in college?
I think that the biggest skill I’ve gained is the ability to relax and be present with people. When I lived at home, I didn’t want to hang out with my parents. Now, I love it when my family visits and I will push off almost everything else to just spend time with them. I think the ability to be present with others is a huge life skill, because it will greatly improve your quality of life.
If I sent you 50 years into the future, what do you hope will have changed in our society by that point?
I hope that in the year 2065, we will have found a better way to solve conflicts than either boots on the ground or drone warfare. I hope that the hipsters of the day keep the art of cursive writing alive. I hope that we still use paper and pencil and read books - and that we make up for how unsustainable that is by eliminating fossil fuel usage. I hope we’ve found a cure for cancer but haven’t eliminated aging.
I hope no president is ever elected on an even slightly xenophobic platform. Also I hope we get rid of the electoral college (it’s silly). I hope we have paid maternity and paternity leave, but also that we haven’t completely overpopulated the earth. I hope they still haven’t created true A.I. I hope that we have people on Mars, because honestly that’s a much cooler way to spend money than nuclear cold wars will ever be.
What is the best restaurant you’ve visited within the past year? What did you order and who you were with?
Last summer, I was in Chicago for a layover. I met up with Chase Wilson (BHS ‘12) and we went to this awesome little place near the Magnificent Mile. I asked him what it was called, but he’s in France and it’s the middle of the night there right now. I got a warm brie and salmon salad and the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had. It was so much better than airport food.
What is your favorite recipe?
Haha cooking. I’m usually too hungry after practice to actually make any meals. I am a fan of raw ingredients like rice, carrots, peaches, avocados, cheese, quinoa, beans, and Triscuits: occasionally mixed together, but not with any consistency. If I were to cook a meal, however, it would be lasagna (whole wheat noodles with cottage cheese instead of ricotta) or Rice Krispie chicken with a green bean casserole.
Are there any authors or books that have had a significant impact on your life?
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Rob Bell’s “Love Wins” is a big reason for my decision to go to EMU. That book saved my faith by teaching me that there isn’t just one way to look at the ideas of heaven and hell. It allowed me to see that there really is room in Christianity for critical thinking and questions.
I talked at length about this book during my honors scholarship interview, which helped convince me that I valued professors who understood Anabaptist faith traditions. Indirectly, the book helped convince me to stick with the Mennonite church as it navigates a new cultural landscape. I was a delegate to the MC USA conference this year, which was an awesome growth experience for me. I hope to stay involved in the church as I move on to my next life steps.
How did your time living Bluffton make an impact on the person you are today?
I’m very grateful for my childhood in Bluffton, because I always felt safe. It’s a wonderful freedom for a child to be able to run around the woods or to the playground without fear. I loved having the college around to explore and take post-secondary enrollment option classes. I’m also grateful for the community at First Mennonite Church, where I did a lot of learning and growing.
Where is your favorite place to run in Bluffton?
My favorite place to run is out on Augsburger Road past the track. Flat road for days! We don’t have a lot of that out here in Virginia. I also really like the double loop around the Buckeye and Cobb Lake. The Bluffton University track will always hold a special place in my heart; I can’t wait to try out the new surface!
