Throughout the spring and summer, we'll be honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Sarah Duran, a sociology major from Portland, Oregon. Duran is a member of the women's tennis team.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend Wooster because of the strong sense of community both among students and among students and professors. Wooster has allowed me to continue my passion for sports as well as have the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research and delve into interests that previously I had not been able to pursue and study.

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fighting Scot student-athlete?
A: For me, being a student-athlete means being there for your teammates both on and off court. It also means working to balance academics and sports to create the space to pursue your goals in both areas.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: One of my favorite memories was when we filled Kauke Arch with snow as a first-year, and my friends and I had a snowball fight. Another favorite memory is my first-year seminar course, Criminal (In)Justice, which has been one of my favorite classes.

Q: What's the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: For me, the best part of being a student-athlete is the community it gives you. It instantly provided me with people who were welcoming and who I knew would be there for me. It is a community that challenges me and motivates me to be better at my sport as well as people I can count on. 

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I have tried to take advantage of academic opportunities. Among other things, I was an undergraduate research assistant and have been a teaching assistant and course design assistant for the sociology department.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. (Heather) Fitz Gibbon has had a great impact on my time at The College of Wooster. It was her intro class that sparked my interest in studying sociology. She has always been a very supportive and engaging professor and one who has been a great mentor for my Independent Study project.

Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people/resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: My coach, Amy Behrman, has been invaluable during my time at Wooster. She is someone I know my teammates and I can count on. She cares about our lives both on and off the court and is always there for us, which is something I have greatly appreciated. 

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: For my Independent Study project, I am focusing on women and the right to the city looking at the power and impact women have when engaging in political protests with a focus on the Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon.

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I was able to study abroad in Tokyo, Japan my junior year. During that time, I did a field placement at Japan's first food bank, Second Harvest, where I conducted research and volunteered. It was an amazing experience to be able to live somewhere so different and have a community there.

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what is one piece of advice you would give your first-year (freshman) self?
A: One piece of advice I would give myself is to be open to trying new things. The first year of college can be scary at first, but remember that you are ready and can do it. There are plenty of opportunities and friends to make so just really delve into what you are interested in.

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