Our celebrity this week is of a different nature than the typical athlete. If you know Sara McBride or have even had the pleasure of meeting her then you know that she could quite possibly be the strongest person you have ever met. Sara’s father Jerome F. “JR” McBride Jr. passed away at the young age of 47 due to complications from brain tumors. Although Sara was completely devastated on the inside, she along with the rest of her family remained stronger than ever on the outside. Instead of mourning JR’s passing, they celebrate his life just how he would want them to.
The idea of making Sara our celebrity of the week came to me when I learned the recent news that a Glen Ellyn bridge was named after him. As a DuPage County Board member, JR was very well known within his community. Those who had the privilege of knowing JR say he was a “bridge builder” so they felt it was only fitting that this bridge be named in honor of him.
Seeing Sara on the quad, talking to her in class, hanging out with her on the weekends, you would never know she has endured this life-changing event. Her positive attitude, her support, her sense of humor and her carelessness of what anyone thinks about her, I could go on and on but Sara really is a celebrity in the eyes of her friends and family.
Her Campus Illinois State: If we asked your friends to describe you in three adjectives what would they be?
Sara McBride: Loyal, sociable, confident
HC ISU: What are your biggest strengths/weaknesses?
SM: My biggest weakness is I can be lazy. If my bed is an option, there is a good chance I will choose it. I would say my biggest strength is my independence. I have this wonderful habit of never settling in relationships.
HC ISU: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
SM: I did shotput for half a season in high school.
HC ISU: Despite everything you have been through you have always been so strong. How do you do it? (Aka what advice would you give to someone going through something similar?)
SM: I would say to take each day as it comes. My mind can quickly wonder to the place where I think of everything in my life my father won’t be there for, but I try to make my mind go to the place where all the events he was there for. Remind yourself how lucky you are for the time you had, instead of dwelling on the time you didn’t. I try to remind myself that some people weren’t as blessed to have 22 years with their father like I did.
HC ISU: What are some ways that you celebrate your father?
SM: His favorite saying was “Love Today,” so I really try to be grateful for the day, and make it the best. He also lost his mobility in his legs towards the end, so I try not to take my health for granted. Running reminds me how alive I am, and how appreciative I am for the use of my legs.
HC ISU: What is your favorite memory of him?
SM: Wow that’s hard. Well, besides him always telling me how beautiful my mother was, probably the time I caught him dancing on our porch. It’s the last really healthy memory I have of him before his health began to take a turn for the worst. He was having a beer, waiting for my mom to get done getting ready so they could go out on their date. I was trying to film him through the window dancing by himself, but he saw me and texted me saying, “I see you. Please get me a beer”. He was always enjoying the day, and was always so unapologetically himself.
HC ISU: What has helped you through this the most? (People, things, etc.)
SM: I am one of five, so definitely my siblings. I talk to my sisters every day. I could not imagine not having each of them to lean on. We have a constant group chat with my mom too and it’s mostly just talking about our father. My friends also have been so supportive. I know how hard it is to try and be there for your friend when you haven’t gone through something like that, but my best friends really stepped up. The constant, “hey how are you” goes a lot farther than most people think.
HC ISU: Words to live by? (Favorite quote, phrase, etc.)
SM: “A breath of fresh air is a great thing to take, and an even better thing to be.”
Sara, thank you again for giving Her Campus the opportunity to have you as a Campus Celebrity :)