Year: 2018
Major/Minor: I’m undeclared, but I’m thinking about neuroscience and psych with a minor in French
Hometown: Chicago
Her Campus: What brought you to Brandeis?
Samantha Pearsall: Well I knew I wanted to skate in college so I was looking for a school that was close to a team I wanted to skate on, but I also was wanted something that was good academically, and I found Brandeis and it worked perfectly!
HC: How did you get involved with synchronized skating?
SP: Well it was shortly after I started skating by myself and there was a tryout for the Chicago Jazz. It was supposed to be kinda a lesson in failure, but I got in. I was 6 years old, no actually 7. So I stuck with it for the past ten years and I just loved it.
HC: I looked up a few synchronized skating videos, and the precision and teamwork involved is crazy! What do your practices entail?
SP: Well we usually warm up off ice first for about half an hour to an hour. And then we stretch and go through whatever we learned at the last practice. It’s five days a week. We also go on the ice for like two hours and we do some conditioning afterwards.
HC: Wow! That’s so intense! Were you able to go to regular high school, or were you homeschooled?
SP: I went to regular high school and then just did all of this after school. And I went to practice before school in the mornings as well.
HC: Tell us a little bit more about your skating team:
SP: We are the Haydenettes and we’re 22 time national champions, 4 time world bronze medalists, and we’re working towards a fifth one this year. There are 20 girls from all around, all going to school in Massachusetts. We’re all in college. They’re definitely the best in the nation and I’ve wanted to make this team since I was little, so it was like a dream fulfilled. I’m very excited for this year.
HC: You’re skating schedule probably keeps you super busy, but what other things are you involved with/hoping to get involved with on campus?
SP: I don’t have too much time on campus, but I’d like to get involved with the figure skating club (obviously), possibly ski club, and possible getting involved with student athletic training.
HC: What’s one thing you’re really exited about for this school year?
SP: I’m really excited to get acclimated in college life, I’m so far away from home and I guess I’m excited for Springfest.
Favorites:
- Sherman or Usdan: Sherman
- Spot on Campus: My Dorm
- Celeb Crush: Zac Effron
- Book: The Great Gatsby
- Secret Indulgence: Ice Cream