Shelby Edwards – Junior – Mass Media
When did you start competing in track and field? How did you get into that?
SE: My freshman year of high school. My brother was also a javelin thrower and I just wanted to be better than him so I started throwing. I just started throwing and I realized it was something I was pretty good at so I was like ok I’ll keep coming out.
Throughout your track and field career, who has influenced you the most?
SE: The people I compete against. A lot of the girls I compete against in college, I also competed against in high school. I watched all of them go on to college so I thought “if they can, I can.” They always beat me in high school so I just wanted to go to college and keep going.
How do you typically prepare before a meet?
SE: I have to have my hair braided. I usually listen to some music and stretch out. I like to be by myself. I feel like I do better.
You’re majoring in mass media. What do you plan on doing with your degree?
SE: I really want to work for a sports team or college. I don’t really have a preference right now because I want to see the industry, but I just want to stay in athletics. It’s always been a part of my life. I think doing public relations and getting to talk to people and promote things, and adding sports into it, is right up my ally.
Do you have any hidden talents?
SE: I used to do cheer and dance. I still choreograph for my hometown. I put on their summer camps. I used to be the cheer captain in high school- I was really into it. I teach tumbling clinics, stunt clinics, teach dance, make music and all that stuff.
Craziest thing on your bucket list?
SE: I’ve always wanted to jump into a pool of jello. As a kid, I always thought that would be so cool so I put that on my bucket list in fifth grade and I just never took it off.
What interesting hobbies or interests do you have?
SE: I’m actually really into DIY projects. I do a lot of shirt bleaching projects. I even started selling them over quarantine because people kept asking me, then all of sudden I had over 60 requests. I’ve been thrift shopping and finding cool t-shirts and doing all of that lately. I would just Pinterest them and then I decided to start actually doing it.
