University of North Carolina Athletics
SAAC Spotlight: Darcy McFarlane
January 15, 2015 | Women's Soccer, Student-Athlete Development
Get to know the UNC Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) representatives through our SAAC Spotlight series. Next up is Darcy McFarlane, a sophomore on the women's soccer 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: Darcy McFarlane
Sophomore • Women's Soccer • Business Administration major • Mill Valley, Calif.
1. How did you choose your major?
I applied to the Business School because I think it's a major that will give me the skills I need to pursue a variety of things in the future. I think business is a competitive environment, which I enjoy, but also one where I can work with people and travel. I don't want to ever be bored!
2. What's your favorite class you've taken at UNC and why?
PLCY 220 Honors, The Politics of Public Policy. I took it spring of my freshman year and it was a small class that was based mostly on class discussion, which I loved. It was really interesting to hear my classmates' views on politics and current events as well as reflect on and develop my own views throughout the semester.
3. Who is a favorite professor you've had at UNC and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her?
Dr. John Scott, who taught my PLCY 220H class, has probably been my favorite professor so far. He was very prepared and organized for every class but remained flexible and fluid based on where our class discussions went. He was always available and eager to meet which was helpful especially with my crazy schedule as a student-athlete. He was very passionate about the topics he taught and also genuinely interested in the success of each student, and that really resonated with me.
4. What are your career goals?
I want to be happy (which is a total cliché, but true!) I hope that soccer will always be a part of my life and I know that I will stay active no matter what I am doing. I am very open to a variety of career possibilities, but I think I would enjoy either working for a tech company out of the Bay Area, where I'm from, or doing something in venture capital for sustainable enterprise.
5. What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
Take classes you are interested in – it is much more fun to take a class that you are passionate about rather than one that just fulfills a requirement or that you have a bunch of friends in. Take advantage of everything this place has to offer.
Also, learn to appreciate the little things. Don't let days and weeks go by without realizing what an amazing experience it is to be a student-athlete at UNC. As much as the grind of running fitness or taking exams sucks, strive to revel in the feeling that at the end of each day you have given everything you have with your teammates and best friends right by your side
6. Why did you choose UNC?
UNC really offers the best of all worlds when it comes to soccer, academics and atmosphere. While definitely intimidating at first, I love the challenge of upholding the tradition of a program that has won 22 of 34 women's soccer national championships and produced so many legends. Academically, I have the chance to take rigorous and interesting classes to get an education that will help me in my life beyond soccer. Chapel Hill really is a special place that feels like a home away from home for me.
7. Where's your favorite place to study?
I like studying in various coffee shops around Chapel Hill. It's nice to get away and get in the study zone with some caffeine. I can't study at my house because I'll just want to hang out with my roommates or sleep!
8. What do you think is the prettiest place on campus?
Fetzer Field in the fall.
9. What does it mean to be a Division I student-athlete?
It's an honor to be a DI student-athlete but it also means we have a responsibility to hold ourselves to a higher standard. It's our job to represent our school as best we can both on and off the field, and in the classroom. It is hard work for sure, but it is definitely worth it and so much fun at the same time – there's nothing better than wearing Carolina blue and being a Tar Heel!
10. What leadership skills have you learned while being a student-athlete at UNC?
One of the most important leadership skills I've learned while being a student-athlete is the importance of leading by example. We can't expect our teammates to work hard on the field and in the classroom if we aren't willing to do so ourselves. I also think it's important to be supportive of our teammates no matter what. Everyone is dealing with something hard, and respecting that and just being there for our teammates as people before athletes is so important.
11. What's the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics?
I think the most important thing I've learned is how to manage my time. Balancing the demands of athletics and academics can be a lot, but it's also important to sleep and have a social life, so I've had to learn how to be efficient and prioritize how I spend my time. While I've realized the importance of delayed gratification to training and studying, I have also learned with the help of my friends not to freak out over little things. Sometimes not everything will be going your way and you just have to learn from mistakes and shortcomings and move on without dwelling on them.
12. What was the biggest piece of advice your sister, Kelly McFarlane, gave you after she graduated? (Kelly McFarlane, who also played soccer for UNC, graduated in 2014.)
The biggest thing I've learned from my sister is to “control the controllables”. I've always admired how calm she is under pressure as a player and also as a student, and that's something I'm learning from her. Sometimes it's hard not to get stressed out with all the demands of being a student-athlete, from coaches and professors, but mostly from myself. Being the rational, smart person she is, Kelly has always brought me back to earth when I'm freaking out and helped me to understand that as long as I'm working as hard as I possibly can, the rest is out of my hands. I am so lucky to have gotten to play with her for one year, and she continues to support the team and me even after she's graduated. I really can't imagine a better role model than Kelly.
