Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Doak Schultz, a political science major from Mystic, Connecticut. Schultz is a member of the swimming and diving team. 

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster? 
A: I chose Wooster because I fell in love with the atmosphere of the swimming and diving team. They were very welcoming on my first visit to campus and everyone has remained amazing friends six years later. 

Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you? 
A: Being a Fighting Scot means supporting your community. With all the terrible things going on in the world today, being a good teammate, classmate, or friend can make a world of difference.  

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster? 
A: My favorite memories are certainly the winter training trips down to Florida over winter break. The team gets so close and has such an amazing time on the beach in between practices. It is a special experience that I am so glad I can share with my teammates.  

Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster? 
A: The best part of being a student-athlete at Wooster is the structure it provides. Being able to stay active, social, and mentally and physically healthy is so valuable, especially when it also provides an outlet for competition and self-improvement.  

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport? 
A: I've been a part of a cappella groups on campus and some clubs, but I also enjoy making art and music in my free time. So many people on this campus are creatively talented and it is so fun to make things together.  

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why? 
A: The list is honestly too long to be concise. Some highlights are Professor Daren Kendall, Dr. Kent Kille, Coach Rob Harrington, and Coach Kyle Garase. These folks have all seen me at very low points in my life and academic career and have all believed in me. I will forever be thankful for their support.  

Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster? 
A: Kate Gullatta in APEX(Wooster's center for Advising, Planning, and Experiential Learning), Dr. Megan Wrobel, and Dr. Michele Johnsonhave all been immensely helpful advisors who have provided guidance through readmission into Wooster, helped navigate financial and academic struggles, and offered support with day-to-day organizational and time management struggles.  

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project? 
A: I am examining the potential impacts of the #MeToo movement in U.S. Congress by utilizing  an artificial intelligence machine learning algorithm to compare the sentiment expressed by the public during  on Twitter to the language used in proposed bills relating to sexual harassment during and after the #MeToo movement.  

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster? 
A: The coolest thing I did as a student at Wooster was get back into Wooster. I had to leave midway through my sophomore year due to family financial instability and relocation to a new state, having to help take care of my sick mother, and my own social and academic struggles. With the pandemic, what started as a semester away from Wooster turned into three. Despite these setbacks, I worked hard, got back into school, got on track to graduate, and completely turned my life around.  

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self? 
A: The biggest advice I would give to my first-year self is to focus on enjoying the little things instead of getting lost in the big picture. When the most valuable resource we have is our time, the destination really is not important. Enjoying the little things, like having lunch with friends, doing well on an assignment, and having a good practice, is what leads to actual fulfillment. 

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