The Marching Virginians is home to students with a wide range of interests – academic, hobby or otherwise. Our students are proof that you can try anything you set your mind to, even with band commitments five or six days a week. One of our busy field leadership took the time to sit down and do an interview – let’s see what Sarah Murray does within and outside of the MVs!
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So, Sarah – how long have you been in the MVs? What’s your role?
I have been in the MVs for three years now, going into my fourth year and my role is trumpet rank captain. I’ve done that my junior year and I’m going to be doing it again my senior year.
What’s your degree program, and how far into it are you?
Photo courtesy of Sarah Murray
I’m an animal science major with an emphasis in poultry, and [I’m] minoring in food science and technology. I’ve just completed my third year, so I’m going into my last one.
If you engage in any extracurricular activities outside of the MVs, what are they?
Outside of the MVs would be with VT Recreational Sports. I got into it my fall semester of freshman year, I took a class. I ended up being an instructor this past semester and I loved it. I taught two different formats and then, going to this next semester, I’m going to add on additional formats so I’ll be teaching three. That’ll be BodyPump, BodyCombat, and cardio-kickboxing.
How do people get involved with those?
The first week of classes is free week. Usually, it’s about $50 a semester, but the first week is free and finals week is free so that’s how I got into it freshman year. I fell in love with it just because it’s [such a] strong community, very encouraging community, and I guess emotional-building with each other. You get to know the instructors and your other participants, and it kind of keeps you accountable – something to look forward to. If you purchase the group exercise pass for the semester or the year, then you can just go to any class at any time. There’s probably 30 classes going on in one day, maybe more than that, with many different formats… we’ll have more next semester because War [Memorial Gym] is opening.
How would you say the MVs has impacted your time at Tech?
I met all my best friends in the MVs. I’m sure everyone says that but it’s one hundred percent true. I wasn’t going to join MVs, actually, and then my roommate was doing it and I was like, ‘What am I going to do when she’s at practice all day?’ so I joined and I’m so glad I did… I had a huge 330 [person] family on my very first day on campus. I’ve always felt welcome and since then I’ve met people with the same interests as me but also different interests as me and it's kind of opened my view on what I can get involved with and what my opportunities are. That also applies to education – before, I didn’t know what food science was and now I’m very passionate about it. Everybody supports everybody… if you ever feel lost or overwhelmed or stressed, you always have that group to go back to, because we’re all in the same situation.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Murray
How manageable would you say that your work with Rec Sports is with the MVs?
I actually struggle more in the spring semester because I don’t have that daily schedule. The MVs help me manage my time a lot better and it kind of makes me get ahead on my schoolwork – or at least think I’m getting ahead when in reality it’s on time. In the spring semester I’m like ‘oh, I have time’ when I should probably do it ahead of time. Rec Sports, being an instructor kind of does the same thing [as the MVs]... in the spring. It actually really helps me and it’s very manageable.
Do you have any other time management tips for incoming students?
Find study buddies. Sometimes I need those people to keep me accountable and just make me feel that I’m not in this alone. College is supposed to be hard.
Do you have any advice for new students who get involved outside of the MVs?
Talk to as many people as you can, because they’re all in different organizations that you’re not involved with and you don’t even know if they exist, probably. Going to Gobblerfest, that got me involved with a lot… visually seeing what is out there. There’s some organizations that I wish that I would have gotten involved with before that I didn’t know existed.
Do you have any advice for making friends outside of the MVs, especially as you’re getting there in the fall and it’s your whole world?
Photo courtesy of Sarah Murray
Right, it is very overwhelming. I would say – talk to people in class, because I didn’t do that my freshman year but I’ve been doing it now and it really helps. If you’re in a class with someone, if you’re not in the same major, you’re probably in a similar major… if you’re scared to talk to them, they’re probably scared to talk to you too. It’s nice to feel like you are welcome, that you are home.
Anything else you think incoming students should know?
Joining the MVs can seem overwhelming at first. Have an open mind and understand that it comes with time and make those small relationships at first. I can guarantee you that it will be a second home that you can always go to when you need it.
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Sarah Murray is from Abingdon, Virginia, and is interning this summer in Wytheville with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).
