School spirit, a smiling face, and fun personality is exactly what you’ll find when meeting Lainey Ortego. Being on the go non-stop can be exhausting, but Lainey takes it in stride by living each day in a positive, exciting way!
Birthday: August 23
Year in School: Sophomore
Hometown: Collierville, TN
Major: International Business
HC: What all are you involved in on campus?
LO: “Pi Beta Phi, Memphis Pom, SGA Senator National Society of Leadership and Success, and Former Frosh Camp Counselor”
HC: What made you choose the U of M?
LO: “I chose The University of Memphis because of how accepting people are and the overall atmosphere of the university. When I first started college, I was quickly interested by all of the various organizations that were offered, and what I loved about it all was how diverse everything was and how the U of M is such a great place to become involved and build relationships with other people. I was blown away at the level of school spirit that the school had to offer, and being a part of Memphis athletics really made me put that into perspective and realize just how awesome our school and the Memphis community is.”
HC: How do you manage class work with Pom and being in a sorority?
LO: “It takes a lot of time management and dedication. Before I am a sorority sister or an athlete or anything else, I am a student. Many organizations are a huge time commitment, but I’ve learned a lot about how to balance these things and still keep up a good GPA at the same time. Sacrifice is something I have had to do a lot, but I would not want it any other way.”
HC: What’s your favorite thing about Memphis?
LO: “My favorite thing about the university is definitely the sense of community. In many past situations, I’ve found that there are so many people that come together and help each other out, whether it be because of a personal issue or something school related. Becoming involved on campus has introduced me to some of the best, most inspiring people I have ever met. My favorite thing about Memphis as a city would have to be all of the places to visit. Recently, I’ve done a lot more exploring, whether it be downtown or midtown or wherever else, and there are so many places that I did not even know existed but are phenomenal (many of which are food places). These places showcase the diversity and uniqueness that has built a foundation for Memphis, and that’s probably why I love the city so much.”
HC: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
LO: “In my free time, I really enjoy just going out and seeing new places. It’s my dream to travel the world, so I’m moving along one step at a time. I also enjoy spending time with friends, occasionally wasting a day watching Netflix, or going somewhere and dancing.”
What is one thing most people don’t know about you? “I have worked at Domino’s Pizza for almost 4 years this year and am a manager at my store…So I guess I’m a pro at making pizzas or something.”
HC: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
LO: “I see myself hopefully in Grad School or having a job in which I can travel and make my dream a reality. I have not thought about it too much, but I will just see where God leads me!”
Lainey is definitely one to lift your spirits when you’re down, seeing all she does and how much she loves the U of M will make any student fall in love with Memphis and all it has to offer its students. You can catch Lainey cheering on the Tigers at pretty much any game along with the other pom and cheer team members.