HC Purdue: Tell me a little about yourself?
Caroline: Well, I am a Junior here at Purdue. I am originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is about two hours from here. I am studying elementary education and I want to become a teacher. I have two brothers, one older and one younger, and I also have a twin sister with whom I am very close with. My sister Julia goes to the University of Michigan.
HC Purdue: Why do you consider yourself a Mermaid?
Caroline: Since I was little, it was always something I wanted to be. I would think to myself how can I achieve this? The reason I started to swim was because I believed my full potential could be reached in the water. I just wanted to be a mermaid so bad. I love being able to be a mermaid everyday and swimming has given me the opportunity to live out this dream I’ve had since I was a little girl. I have gotten as close to a mermaid as one can get.
HC Purdue: What is your favorite part about Purdue?
Caroline: The people I have met so far. I have a lot of good friends on the swim team and I have met some good people in my classes. The community here at Purdue is just awesome and I love being apart of it.
HC Purdue: What is your major…and why did you choose that?
Caroline: I am a elementary education major. I chose this specifically so I could work with children. I originally went to school to become an occupational therapist, but once I got into the coursework, I realized I wanted to work with children. I am very passionate about children and helping them. I love every part of this experience and cannot wait to be a teacher. Being off campus and in the classroom has made me fall more in love with my major.
HC Purdue: What was the deciding factor for you to come to Purdue?
Caroline: Well, it’s funny, I have always wanted to come to Purdue. My Dad graduated from here and I have always been a Boilermaker fan. And then the swimming part really just fell into place. When I came here on my visit trip, I just fell in love with the team and the coaches. I really knew what I wanted and Purdue was exactly it. This was a very easy decision for me and I only looked at one other place, but I know Purdue is where I was meant to be.
HC Purdue: What do you think is the most rewarding part of being a student athlete here at Purdue?
Caroline: I take a lot of pride in being a swimmer. It is a lot of work and there’s no doubt about that. I need a lot of focus and time management and I experience a lot of different things that normal students do not have to consider or think about. I think I am really proud of being able to handle it all. All the work that we do in and out of the pool motivates me to do better in my classes too. I am not just an individual but I am a part of a team and that is a bigger than just myself. I am proud to be a Boilermaker and wear the big P on me as I compete with my team.