Name: Zoë Mahan
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology (BS) Pre-Med
Hometown: East Lyme, CT
When did you start dancing?
Zoë: “I have been dancing since I was three. I was a ballerina all throughout high school and I was in a professional company. We did the Nutcracker every year. Hardcore ballerina. Actually when I came to Stony Brook I was dead set against joining the dance team. My orientation leader was on the dance team and she asked if I wanted to join and I was like, “No, no thanks, I’m a ballerina, I don’t want to do that.” And then I came and I saw them perform at convocation and I thought, “That’s so cool, I want to do that.” So I ended up actually seeing the same girl in the library that day and I talked to her. I went to practice that Monday and joined the team. And here we are four years later.”
What is your favorite part about being on the dance team?
Zoë: “I love performing. I love being on the field and interacting with the students and the fans. I love being able to get people riled up. The team aspect is very different for me, but it’s really great. I was never on a team before, but I love it.”
How do think being on the dance team has changed your Stony Brook experience?
Zoë: “Absolutely made it better. A lot of people join the dance team to make friends and that’s where we started, but now we are nationally ranked, we’re a competitive team. It’s definitely changed our experience.”
How do you think the SBU dance team has contributed to the spirit of the Stony Brook community?
Zoë: “I think we do a great job at raising sprits. We are at all the home football games and men’s basketball games and most of the women’s basketball games, we alternate with cheer. The marching band does a great job at what they do too, they’re awesome. We love them. We really pair up cheers and try to get sprits raised at all the games. And we do a lot of community events, too, like we just performed at the fall festival.”
What was the experience like running for homecoming queen?
Zoë: “It was great. We had campaign pictures. It was so nice to have people come up to us saying, “You’re so cute” and I’m just like, “Thank you! I don’t know you, but thank you!” It was really fun. I’m really thankful for the experience. It was a really great court and it was a good time.”
What are your other passions on and off campus?
Zoë: “I’m also an undergraduate intern for the Red Watch Care Team, and I spend a lot of time with them. I’m the head of the development group along with Gretta who works in athletics. We co-run that group. We focus on team bonding and really just making sure the group stays moving and doesn’t fizzle out. We’ve taken Red Watch Band and expanded it from bystander intervention to education. We’re really trying to create a caring campus community. It’s a big deal for us; we are very serious about it. We just picked up Students For Students, too that’s our new initiative.”
What advice would you give your freshman self?
Zoë: “Get involved sooner. I’m one of those people that the busier I am, the happier I am. This year I’ve been involved in the most things and if I had started three years ago, I would have had an even better experience at Stony Brook. I think getting involved with as many clubs and organizations as you can is the best advice. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s really true.”
What do you want your legacy at Stony Brook to be?
Zoë : “I guess I want people to remember that I loved being a Seawolf. I loved Stony Brook. I keep saying this, but Stony Brook really is my home. I love it here.”
All photos taken by Frank L. Fumelli