Frostburg State junior Meredith Johnson enjoys all the little things about being an NCAA Division III college student-athlete – her favorite place on campus, her friends and her favorite experience as a collegiate swimmer.  These are not “little things” to Johnson – they’re important to her and help capture who she is.  INTRODUCING … Meredith Johnson.

Briefly, what is your background in the sport you play?   I swam for six years for a year-round club, four years in high school and now three years in college for a total of 13 years experience.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?  I major in Earth Science with a minor in Sustainability. I have learned how to care for our environment properly and preserve it for future generations.  

What is your favorite spot on campus?   My favorite spot on campus is the PE Center.  Most of my friends are athletes and my best friends are on the swim team. Seeing athletes motivated and working hard for their sport in inspiring.

Outside of your home and campus, where is your favorite place visit?  My family owns a house on the Chesapeake Bay that we visit every weekend in the summer. There is no internet or cable, just family, nature and the bay.  We crab, fish, swim in the bay and take hikes. 

Other than your team, what organization (s) do you participate in (on campus or off campus)?  I am a member of Geography Club.

Briefly describe the most memorable experience during your collegiate athletic career.   During 2013 CAC Championships, I was a member of the 200 Medley Relay that broke the school record. I anchored that relay and swam my fastest 50 free in my life. We were so excited and proud of ourselves.

Other than your family members, who was the most influential person in your life?   The most influential person in my life was my first collegiate swim coach, Jun Yamaguchi. He helped me through a very serious injury and gave me a chance to be on the team. He believed in me and motivated me to get through some rough times. He didn’t just push us in the pool, but pushed us to be better students and better people. To him it wasn’t all about what happened in the pool, but how we were doing in school, and our families. It meant a lot that a coach was more concerned about our well-being then all the focus on the pool. We are just a D3 school so athletics is not a top priority for us. He took time to get to know us and our families. He is an inspiration to me and great role model.

What is the most important societal issue facing college students?   The most important societal issue facing college students is definitely peer pressure to drink. Most college students go out on weekends and even weekdays to get completely drunk. It is hard to got to just enjoy friends without being pressured to drink.

If you could change any one item in the world (in your personal life, school, community, amateur or professional sports, national/international issue, etc.), what would it be, why, and how would you do it?   I would change the fact that my school does not get a Fall break while other schools do. Our only breaks are Thanksgiving and Easter during the semester. We should be given a long weekend before Thanksgiving.

What is your favorite form of entertainment?   My favorite form of entertainment is hanging out with friends. Nothing specific, just being around people I like and have a lot in common with - joking around and enjoying each others company.

If you could give one piece of advice to elementary school children, what would that advice be?   I’d recommend that the children find what you love and make dreams about it. In elementary school, I discovered that I enjoyed science class. So when it came time to decide what I wanted to study in college, I knew exactly that I wanted to study Earth Science and make a difference in the world.

Outside of the CAC, who or what is your favorite sports person or team?  I am from Baltimore, and I completely respect Ray Lewis and his 13 year career with the Ravens.  He never changed teams and was determined to win a Super Bowl. He led his team and motivated them all the way. He was an amazing leader and left a legacy on the hearts of Baltimore.

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with?   

1. Franklin Roosevelt. His New Deal in the 1930s helped America when we really needed to come back. He made a great impact on the economic recovery. He also started the Civilian Conservation Corps, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Soil Conservation Service. He changed the way Americans thought about the environment and started organizations that are still around today.
2. Taylor Swift. She had a dream when she was little and followed through with it. Her family supported her dream and moved to Nashville. Although she has a rough dating history, she has never changed and remains true to herself. Her goal is to be the best role model for girls that she can.
3. My grandfather. I never met him and would simply just like to talk to him about his service and work as a Firefighter around the world. I would hope I make him proud.