My name’s Mary Terry—does that rhyme? I’m a freshman at the University of Georgia. I’ve grown up in the Athens area for most of my life, where else would I go? Go Dawgs! I’m honored to be one of the younger people to write for this platform. I hope you find what I have to say intriguing and beneficial.
Growing up as a quintuplet is what I know to be normal. Did I just say quintuplet? Yes, I did.
My siblings and me were the very first set of quintuplet’s to be born in the state of Georgia. Five individual birthday cakes and bouncy houses at our birthday parties, what more could we have asked for? Growing up with so many siblings the same age as me definitely taught me that ‘sharing is caring.’
My brother Dylan passed away when we were almost 3 years old. It tore my parents apart, and our mom has raised us as a single parent for as long as I can remember. I sometimes envy seeing families with both a mom and a dad.
That’s normal for most children who grew up in a single parent household or for those who grew up without parents at all. Growing up with an absent father has made me who I am today.
It’s made me independent and much better at counting my blessings, what more could I ask for? I thank God everyday for blessing me with the family that I have.
Because I’m independently minded, it’s easier for me to make connections with people. I’d like to think that I’m very social and that I get along with people from all walks of life. I form relationships with everyone I meet. I don’t care who I’m with or “who I’m seen with.” You will see me talking to everyone, that’s how it should be.
No matter where you go in life you should reach out to everyone, no matter his or her skin color, appearance, or his or her “social status.” One thing that I have learned is that connections are the key to furthering your career and life.
Forming strong connections with people can help you in ways that you could never imagine.
So get to stepping on making as many connections with people in your desired field of work. The connections I’ve formed have led me to have relationships with people from all backgrounds and situations. From that I have become a very well-rounded person, what more could I ask for?
I was blessed with the opportunity of getting to choose between different universities for track and field. It was a very difficult time period for me. I was very fortunate to be given the ability to choose where I wanted to go, but it was an unbelievably hard decision for me.
I formed strong relationships with coaches from Illinois State and Kennesaw State. I don’t know why it was so hard for me to say bye. I’m just a people person. I want to please people; I don’t want to hurt people.
I thought that by saying good-bye I would disappoint the coaches, and I did. It’s a part of the game; I just didn’t want to be a part of that side of the game. I told ISU that I wouldn’t be going there first, and it was awful. I cried for days, (I’m not a very emotional person, but it hit me hard). I built a very strong relationship with a track and field coach and saying good-bye was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Then came KSU.
I was stuck between the school of my dreams and a financial opportunity that would help my family out tremendously. I loved KSU and their coaching staff, but I ultimately chose UGA. To be honest without track and field, I wouldn’t be going to the school of my dreams and doing what I love the most. What more could I ask for?
I always heard being a student athlete was hard, and it is. About a month into school and track and field, I have had to step my game up. Time management and procrastination have always been a problem of mine. It won’t fly here. Multiple practices a day, mixed with classes and mandatory tutoring/mentoring makes it crucial to stay on my game when it comes to balancing my time. It’s definitely been a learning process, but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
I love it here. What more could I ask for?
Athletics has taught me and continues to teach me discipline, work ethic, and camaraderie. It’s taught me how to be angry for losing and turning around and shaking the competitors hand who beat you, and thanking the people who run off each event. That’s huge! Doing little acts of kindness is so big! You don’t know how much people appreciate that, and just how much something as little as shaking someone’s hand, looking him or her in the eye, and thanking him or her will mean to that person.
I absolutely strive to make people feel good about themselves; in turn, it makes me feel good about myself. Compliments are the key to this world. A compliment can go an unbelievably far way. Something as small as complimenting an elderly lady’s shirt or hair, it truly makes the difference in some people’s day. A quote I live by everyday, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” So, make sure to be kind to everyone even if it’ll be hard, do it.
We were put on this Earth to help people. Some people were put into a better life situation and some weren’t.
It is what it is, and sometimes you have to work 1,000,000 times harder to even reach the success that has been handed to someone else. It’s all up to you and if you’re willing to put the work in to become what you’re capable of becoming. This lesson has shaped me into the hard worker I am today, what more could I ask for?
At this point in my life, I’m right where I need to be. My father and I have grown closer. I’m at the school of my dreams practicing what I love while getting a phenomenal education. I’m so grateful to my family and friends and to everyone who believed in me. I won’t let you down. I will be getting my undergrad in health and physical education and I’m planning on getting a masters degree in counseling. I ultimately want to be a high school counselor and coach track and field.
I get to help people overcome their everyday fears, worries, and struggles. I get to lead people to the colleges they want to attend and help them get one step closer to their goals and dreams. What more could I ask for?
track and field
