Throughout the spring and summer, we'll be honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Meghan Botsch, a communication sciences and disorders major from Dunwoody, Georgia. Botsch is a member of the volleyball team.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: Wooster had an amazing balance of academics and athletics in a community that felt so connected and welcoming. I fell in love with the communication sciences and disorders department after meeting with the clinical supervisor, Ms. (Cara) Hammond, and watching how the volleyball team connected to one another on and off of the court.

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fighting Scot student-athlete?
A: Being a Fighting Scot student-athlete allows me to demonstrate my dedication and love for both learning and playing a sport. My college experience completely changed in an incredible way through meeting so many amazing people and having so many incredible opportunities due to being both a student and an athlete.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: It is hard to pinpoint a favorite memory from Wooster. I have had some of my favorite memories in the locker room with my team before a big game, working with clients in the Freedlander Speech and Hearing Clinic, or even just low-sitting with friends.

Q: What's the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: There are so many amazing aspects of being a student-athlete at Wooster. I love being able to push myself academically and athletically with an amazing support system through my teammates. I have also loved watching my teammates grow throughout the years, even watching one of my teammates become one of my coaches!

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I currently work multiple jobs in the athletic department, and I'm a student director for intramurals. In addition, I am a member of various clubs on campus, including the campus chapters of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and Lambda Pi Eta (communication honor society), and the Communication Club.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. (Donald) Goldberg has made the greatest impact on me. Dr. Goldberg became my advisor during the pandemic and was not only invested in my academics, specifically working on my Independent Study, but also was so invested in my emotional well-being with the transition from in-person to virtual classes. I have never had a professor so supportive and I have loved working with him as a mentor for the past four years.

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: The Writing Center has been one of the most beneficial resources that Wooster has provided me. I began working with Tessa Hall in the Writing Center to go over I.S. materials and edits. She became someone I really have trusted and have loved working with not only for I.S., but also helping me in the process for applying to graduate schools.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am investigating the counseling methods that speech-language pathologists use when providing services to pediatric patients with tracheostomy tubes. I am conducting two surveys. The first, for speech-language pathologists, looks at understanding their perception of the counseling they provide for these children and their families along with their preparation to work with this population. The second, for parents of children with tracheostomy tubes, looks at understanding their perception of the counseling their child has received. Along with the surveys, I am conducting interviews with some parents to allow them to further explain their experiences with speech-language pathologists.

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: One of the coolest experiences for me as a student at Wooster was the volleyball team's fall trip to Washington D.C. in 2019. During this trip, we explored, volunteered at various organizations, and played against teams in the area. One of the teams we played against was Gallaudet University, a university for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. This university promotes deaf culture, which was an incredible experience for me, as I have had multiple classes at Wooster that discussed deaf culture and Gallaudet University.

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what is one piece of advice you would give your first-year (freshman) self?
A: I would tell myself to not sweat the little things. Things aren't always going to be easy, but if you work hard and be kind to yourself and others, things will have a way of working out.

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