SAAC Spotlight: Paige Neuenfeldt
November 7, 2014 | Volleyball, Student-Athlete Development
Get to know the UNC Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) representatives each week through our SAAC Spotlight series. Next up is Paige Neuenfeldt, a junior on the volleyball team.
SAAC is composed of appointed representatives from each of UNC's 28 varsity teams and helps promote communication between faculty, administrators, coaches and student-athletes. SAAC members meet monthly to discuss ideas and issues pertinent to UNC Athletics, the ACC and the NCAA.
SAAC Spotlight: Paige Neuenfeldt
Junior • Business Administration • Volleyball • Birmingham, Mich.
1. How did you choose your major?
I came into Carolina with no idea what I wanted to major in but a lot of ideas what I didn't want to do. I was actually enrolled in Biostatistics classes during my sophomore year but decided I needed something that better allowed me to blend personality with my mathematical skills. I was turned towards business by my academic advisor Tony and was hooked after meeting with some amazing faulty. It's the perfect competitive environment for me to be challenged in and also gives me a lot of variety within the Business School to choose my own area of emphasis.
2. What's your favorite class you've taken at UNC and why?
PSYCH56, a first-year seminar with Dr. Steven Reznik in which I was able to go to a day care center and "study"/play with the cutest toddlers for a semester and talk about their infant development. It was an awesome hands-on experience.
3. Who is a favorite professor you've had at UNC and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her?
Professor William Lycan - PHIL160 Honors. I loved his teaching style-he allowed for great discussion about ethics by encouraging us to learn from each other. Professor Lycan would open lectures with interesting viewpoints or questions but would then sit back and watch all the young minds battle back and forth. I've learned more from my peers than I ever would have thought possible and I owe Professor Lycan huge thanks for teaching me the value of my peers.
4. What are your career goals?
A work in progress :) I'm currently working through all the business school core classes and getting a feel for what I like best and what I am good at. A dream job would be working in the sports business industry.
5. What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
Take it all in. People tell you it goes by fast but that's an understatement. It goes by faster than you'll ever imagine. You might be wishing for preseason to fly by or to "just get through" this tough week of school but come graduation time, you'll be begging to have one more two-a-day or one more week to walk to class through the beautiful quad. Enjoy every day and find the positives wherever you can-you go to one of the best schools in the nation!
6. Why did you choose UNC?
It was the perfect combination of a large public school with great athletics and academics. The community atmosphere is amazing here and I loved my coaches and teammates. I felt I could make an impact on this campus and Carolina blue isn't the worst color in the world either :)
7. Where's your favorite place to study?
The union – libraries aren't for me (I can't whisper) and my bedroom is too tempting to take a nap.
8. What do you think is the prettiest place on campus?
The Old Well area (second quad) especially in fall with the changing colors on the trees
9. What does it mean to be a Division I student-athlete?
Being a DI student-athlete means you represent your school in an academic and athletic way. You're invested in all aspects of collegiate life. Being a DI student-athlete means you have learned more outside the classroom than you will ever realize: time management skills, teamwork, how to handle criticism, dedication, goal setting, and image management are all examples.
10. What leadership skills have you learned while being a student-athlete at UNC?
I've learned a lot about managing stress this year. With this fall being my first semester in the Business School and Honors College and being in-season, I've never dealt with so much all at once. By learning how to better manage my time and use the resources around me, I feel I can better deal with chaos on the volleyball court, which improves my leadership ability. I've learned not to think of the situation as stressful but to look at it as an opportunity to get better and learn.
11. What's the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics?
I've done this balance basically my entire life, but the rigorous schedule of DI college athletics will test even the most prepared. I think the most important thing I've learned in my time here is that it's okay to fail-what really matters is how you get back up and try again. Nobody is perfect but it teaches you how to grow and learn from your mistakes. I still struggle with this concept sometimes but I am doing my best to fall in love with the process and not necessarily the outcomes.
12. What does it mean to be a SAAC Representative and why is the student-athlete voice so important?
Being the volleyball SAAC representative is a huge honor for me. It means that my teammates and coaches rely on me to represent them and be the link between our team and the athletics administration and the faculty. The experienced gained from this group will set us up for future success later in life.
The student-athlete voice is as important now as it ever was. Everybody deserves to be heard, whether it's a small suggestion for the Rammys or having an opinion on the Wainstein report. Please feel free to come up to me and voice any concerns you may have-I am honored to get to represent you in this amazing system.
