Senior Spotlight: Sara Morales

By Andi Kremer

Columns is excited to introduce our new senior spotlight series, featuring interviews with current NDMU seniors. Interviewed by Andi Kremer, Sara Morales shares about her experience at NDMU and her plans for the future.

MAJOR

Elementary Education

HOMETOWN

Joppa, Maryland

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A NOTRE DAME SCHOLAR

To be a Notre Dame scholar means striving for academic excellence and becoming a contributing member of the global community.

PLANS AFTER GRADUATION

I am going to graduate school at NDMU. I am part of the 5-year BA/MAT program. After I get my masters, I want to be a teacher in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT

I am a four-year soccer team member and a four-year lacrosse team member. I am a four-year member of SAAC, serving one year as the lacrosse representative, one year as the Vice President, and two years as the President. I am also a four-year Gators Teach member and a 2-year member of the Gators Teach Executive Team.

HOW BEING A STUDENT-ATHLETE HAS IMPACTED YOUR EDUCATIONAL CAREER

Being a student-athlete has made me a better student at NDMU and taught me how to be a leader. I have had to keep my grades up as well as keep up my training to excel in the classroom and on the field. Being a student-athlete has also taught me how to be a leader on the field, in the classroom, and wherever else I am.

MOST INFLUENTIAL STAFF MEMBER

I find Samantha Kastner, Assistant Athletic Director, the most influential. She has been the SAAC advisor all four years and she truly inspires me to be my best. Throughout COVID, she always made sure to keep SAAC a strong organization by keeping us together. As a student-athlete alumnae from NDMU, she has provided me with advice for balancing all that I do. She has been a great role model for me during my time at Notre Dame.

FAVORITE MEMORY AT NDMU

My favorite memory at NDMU is being a part of the athletic department and the soccer and lacrosse teams. I have so many memories from each season with all of my friends, and being an athlete at NDMU is something I will never forget.

SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU KNEW AS A FIRST-YEAR STUDENT

Being a commuter is super tough. Balancing being a well-rounded student-athlete and responsibilities at home is not always easy, and you feel like you are wasting a lot of time in the car everyday driving back and forth. Finding the balance and prioritizing what is important is the key to being successful.