Name: Jennifer McElroy
Age/Year in School: 20, Sophomore
Major: Communications major, Applied Dance minor
Hometown: Sarasota, FL
Her Campus Position: Staff Writer
What else are you involved in on/off campus? I am a University of Tampa Diplomat and Public Relations Officer for Healing Arts. I am a dedicated and joyful dancer and have performed in eight shows thus far at UT, and currently in rehearsal for my ninth show. I have been dancing for fifteen years. I was an E.L.I.T.E. classic mentor for Fall 2014 and Spring 2015.
What is your favorite aspect of being involved with Her Campus? This organization is an outlet for me, as I am able to write articles with no specific subject matter. It is freedom from my writing classes for my major. I have been able to interview some really interesting and inspiring students at UT and therefore, have created new friendships because of those connections and also from meeting the other girls who participate in this organization.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chocolate chip cookies.
What is one item you refuse to leave the house without? Tic-Tacs. I do not like to have bad breath.
What is your dream Job: Either a dancer or Public Relations/ Guest Relations employee at Walt Disney World.
What is your dream Vacation: To travel to China and walk the Great Wall.
What was one of your New Year resolutions? Not being single the entire year, but I am still working on this one. Accepting applications, gentlemen!
What is one of your most embarrassing moments at UT so far? Probably all of my spontaneous twerking moments in my dance classes when the professors are looking at their notebooks for a couple of minutes and we are just standing in the dance studio. How boring are those few minutes just standing and waiting; might as well twerk it out.
What is your favorite genre of movies? Musicals, I love catchy, cheesy songs to sing along to.
What do you do to de-stress? I enjoy playing music in my room and dancing my little heart out to de-stress.
What is your favorite place to eat on campus? DQ. A triple-berry smoothie or a mint Oreo blizzard can always make my day even better.
Who is your celebrity crush and why? Zac Efron because: one, he is gorgeous. Two, he has acted in many musical movies. Three, he is one celebrity who has kept a very decent image of himself and stays involved in the movie making business.
What advice would you give your freshman self? Everything happens for a reason. Just know that one thing may not work out, but that might be because God has something better in-store for me that I just did not know or think about then.
What is your life motto? “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them,” by Walt Disney.
What is your favorite thing about UT? The size of the campus and its location in Tampa Bay. I enjoy going to the downtown area with my friends to walk around Curtis-Hixon Park and grab a nice meal from Taco Bus. The school is so close to the city, I just absolutely love it. I also enjoy that I can walk across campus in about 10-12 minutes as that is convenient for me. I am constantly running around campus and sometimes I am tight on time, so it is helpful not having to walk 20 minutes as some do at the larger universities.
What is the first thing on your bucket list you want to accomplish? Â I would love to dance professionally for a couple of years after I graduate. Either Walt Disney World or Bush Gardens will satisfy this bucket list item.
Who is your role model? Dr. Susan Taylor Lennon, who is a professor for the Speech, Theatre, and Dance department here at UT. She handles herself with so much poise, humbleness, and confidence. Lennon is constantly donating her time toward volunteering in the Tampa Bay community. She is someone I aspire to be like, as she is graceful and cares so deeply for the dance program and all the students who are involved in it. I hope to be like her someday and create an environment in which all feel welcomed, loved, and cared for. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to have Lennon as a professor, dance instructor, and friend during my college experience thus far.
Most importantly… Are you a cat or a dog lover? While I have never had a pet cat or dog, I would have to say that I am dog lover. They look so cute when they are puppies and have charming little eyes.