Name: Kali Edsall
Year: Sophomore
Major: SMAD – Integrated Advertising and Corporate Communication Concentration
Minor: Sports Communication
Hometown: Roanoke, VA
Campus involvement: Varsity Swim and Dive Team, Treasurer for AWSM
What’s your favorite thing about JMU?
My favorite thing about JMU is the people and the love everyone has for our school. Everyone here is so accepting and personable, making it a very comfortable environment to be apart of. All the students, faculty, and alumni are so proud to be connected with JMU and that is very unique. It’s hard to explain but there is just something special about the people here that make JMU so great. I can honestly say I have never heard someone say anything bad about JMU, and I think that say a lot about our university.
What show are you currently binging?
One Tree Hill. I shouldn’t have started it because I cannot stop. Naley forever <3
If you could switch places with any celebrity for a day, who would it be and why?
I can’t choose just one so I’m going to pick two. I would say either Jennifer Lawrence or Sam Ponder. I love how both are very down-to-earth. They are very relatable and I think that’s what makes them stand out from the other celebrities in their respective industries. I actually had the opportunity to meet Sam Ponder when gameday was here and she is amazing! She was so sweet and willing to meet with us even though she was insanely busy. I really admire both of them. Also, their jobs are pretty amazing!
What’s your dream job?
My dream job is to work for an MLB or NFL team to help produce gameday videos, but more generally work for their media departments.
How does it feel to be a woman wanting to go into a heavily male-dominated industry?
I don’t think about it that often to be honest. I have the mindset that if I work hard and prove myself in the industry, then I will gain respect from the right people. I personally think that having a work ethic, being good at what you do and gaining respect will overshadow gender any day.
Tell us about AWSM, who are you and what do you do?
We are the Association of Women in Sports Media, and our club is aimed to help men and women, who are interested in the sports industry, learn more about opportunities through guest speakers and workshops. We want to prepare our members for a career that they will love by helping them gain insight to the industry while also being able to network.
You’re also a member of the JMU Swim and Dive team, what’s the hardest part about being a student athlete?
I love being a student athlete at JMU, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. However, I would say the hardest thing about being a student athlete is figuring out the time management of school, athletics, and extracurriculars. None the less, most of the student athletes have been managing their time wisely for many years that it has become second nature. It can be hard to stay up and study when you know you have practice in the early morning so it’s just about utilizing the time wisely throughout the day. I will also add that it has made me a better student and more organized throughout the years because you have to be.
What do you like most about being a student athlete?
The thing I love the most about being a student athlete is having a second family here at JMU. Our team spends countless hours together every day, on weekends, and over breaks that makes our bond pretty unbreakable. It gives me a chance to be apart of something bigger than myself.
You recently competed in your first meet coming off of a 3 year long injury, what was that like?
It was incredible to feel like a swimmer again and just be able to race. During the injury I honestly didn’t know if I was ever going to compete again but I have had an incredible amount of support from my coaches, doctors, friends, family and team. It is hard to explain the feeling I had when I finished the race, all I know is I didn’t feel defined by my injury anymore. I still have a long road ahead of me but I’m very lucky to have such an amazing coach staff and team by my side throughout the process.