Have any of you out there ever wondered what it would be like to start your own club here at Fordham? If so, you can ask this week’s campus celeb, Shalyn O’Malley all about it! Shalyn started the first Co-Ed Fordham Club Tennis team this past semester! As a Dean’s List student, you know you can find Shalyn around campus in her classes or hanging out at Cosi studying. But on the off chance you can’t find her, it’s probably because she’s chilling in her cozy off-campus apartment, practicing yet another talent of hers, the piano. And let me tell you, not only can this girl play well; she also has an amazing voice! Get to know what makes Shalyn rock and find out how her experience at Fordham has been so far!
Where are you from? I’m from Scituate, Massachusetts. It’s a small town south of Boston.
What year are you? I am a junior (Class of 2015).
What is your major? Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing.
What activities are you involved in? This semester, with the help of Co-Founder/Co-President Valerie Edwards, I created the Fordham Club Tennis team. The club provides opportunities for Fordham University non-varsity tennis athletes, both girls and boys, to pursue their interest in competitive tennis in a fun and relaxed environment. Aside from tennis, I have been a New Student Orientation Leader and an active member of Student Culinary Council.
Tell us more about tennis! What sparked your interest to start a club team? I have been playing tennis since I was six years old. I played Varsity tennis throughout my four years in high school and was captain my senior year. When I came to Fordham as a freshman, I was disappointed to find that they did not have a club tennis team. I thought about starting a club team that year but decided to wait until I was more adjusted to the school. After my participation in New Student Orientation this past fall I learned that many of the freshman in my group were interested in playing tennis, just as I was when I arrived here at Fordham and this influenced me to get the club started.
What kind of advice would you give to others out there wanting to start their own club sport? Creating a club sport at Fordham is a two year process, so if you want to make things happen in your time here at Fordham, don’t wait. For us, Fordham will recognize Fordham Club Tennis as a club sport in 2015 and then we will have the ability to compete on the inter-collegiate level, which is super exciting.
How did you decide to come to Fordham? I loved the campus and its proximity to Manhattan.
Do you have any tips for students who are trying to balance schoolwork, extracurriculars, and other obligations like internships? Prioritize your work. If you set deadlines for yourself and stay on top of your school work, you will have plenty of time to do other activities.
What’s your favorite thing about New York? I love that there are so many things to do.
What’s on your NYC bucket list? Someday I would love to take a helicopter ride over the city.
Where’s your favorite spot on campus? Tennis courts!
If you could give one piece of advice to a Fordham collegiette, what would it be? Get involved at Fordham as much as you can! Time flies.
What’s your dream job? Working in marketing at a successful company in Manhattan.
Pick one!
Bronx Zoo or Botanical Gardens? Botanical Gardens
Arthur Ave/Fordham Road? Arthur Ave
Cafeteria or Grille? Grille
RamVan or Subway? Ram Van
Hot Dog or Bagel? Bagel
Broadway or Off-Broadway? Broadway
Radio City or Madison Square Garden? Madison Square Garden
Central Park or Brooklyn Bridge? Central Park
Fordham Club Tennis meets twice a week; Monday 6- 7:30 pm and Wednesday 4:30 – 6pm for any of you readers out there who are interested in joining!