Homecoming Queen, Orientation Advisor, and without a doubt the coolest rink guard the Smithsonian Sculpture Garden Ice Rink has ever hired; Senior Meredith O’Connell is always up to something crazy and new and is never without a smile on her face. Read below to see what’s in store for her final semester here at CUA, and what some of her highlights here have been!
Name: Meredith O’Connell
Hometown: Albany, NY
Major: Anthropology
HC: What was your first reaction when you won homecoming queen?
Meredith: My first reaction to winning homecoming queen was “I hope Daniel (my older brother) is paying attention”! He graduated from CUA in 2014 and was visiting for alumni weekend. I was really counting on him to get good pics of everything!
HC: What is your favorite part about working at the sculpture garden ice rink?
Meredith: I have been skating since I could stand. My parents worked as rink guards when they were in college. My best friend and I would go skating on the pond down the street from my house as soon as we got home from school. I love to skate. It is also so fun to see all the visitors to the rink. My favorite part has to be seeing all the little kids. My supervisor calls the young ones Bambi because of how unsure they are one the ice and how their legs flop around.
HC: You’re also an Orientation Advisor, what has that experience been like?
Meredith: Being an OA is like being a parent. But I’m not like regular Moms, I’m a cool Mom. We get to interact with the first years at what is arguable their most vulnerable point, and we are their greatest resource. Then we get to see them a few weeks later with their friends and all of the activities they have joined. I swear, some of my Orientees this year are way cooler than I am, and that’s awesome. I am so proud of them!
HC: Any plans for after graduation?
Meredith: I am currently in the process of applying to long-term service organizations. I am interested in pursuing Social Work so I figure this will be a good way to test the waters. My brother is currently doing his second year of service and its incredible to see how he has grown. I want that! Also, if I have learned anything at CUA its that service is important, but also fun.
HC: Favorite memory from CUA?
Meredith: My favorite CUA memory (so far) was last Spring when Immaculée Ilibagiza came to speak at a CUA on Tap. She is a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Her story is like nothing I have ever heard or could ever imagine. It was such a blessing to have her on campus. I will never forget it.
HC: Craziest thing you’ve done at CUA?
Meredith: Well I really am not much of a rebel haha. The “craziest” thing my friends and I did (that I can mention in print) was take an entire bulk bag on cinnamon toast crunch from the upstairs Pryz. It was one of those bulk bags they use to fill the cereal. It took us most of the semester to finish it.
HC: From Battle of the Bands to the Light the Tree Ceremony, you seem to be CUA’s favorite emcee lately, what has that been like?
Meredith: Being an emcee is hard! It’s like doing stand-up, it’s very difficult to try and relate to every person in the room. I think I can be funny, but my humor is much more organic and situational. I am not so good at rattling off jokes in front of the people. I will say, my ultimate dream would be to host Mr. CUA!
HC: Anything fun planned for your last semester here at CUA?
Meredith: I have a DC Bucket list I have been working on all year, and there is a lot left to do. Most of it consists of tourist things I want to do one more time. But some of it are special DC events. I really want to see a Caps game, and see a concert at the 9:30 club, and there are a ton of restaurants I want to check out.
Thank you so much for meeting with us Meredith, and best of luck finishing off that bucket list!