University of North Carolina Athletics
I'm A Tar Heel: Lizzy Whelan
April 14, 2016 | Track & Field
To My Tar Heel Family,
The past five years of my life I have toed the line in Tar Heel blue, proud and ready to roll. I know that this privilege will soon be coming to an end, and for me, it is something that will be very hard to say goodbye to. I can remember my first time coming to Carolina and looking at the baby blue track, and thinking, this place is awesome. I can remember looking at the picture of Franklin Street when we won the national championship in basketball and thinking it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. I wanted to be a part of that pride. I wanted to be able to say I was a Tar Heel.
The thing I didn't realize at that time was that I was going to become part of something that was so much bigger than me. When I first got to UNC I immediately became a part of this community, this family. Whether it was a nod on campus, or a pat on the back, or congratulations on a competition, there was a support there. There was always this grander sense of belonging. It was something I had heard about but never really experience until I came to UNC. Everyone is rooting for you and in turn you are rooting for everyone else. It was an environment where it was hard not to flourish because you felt like you were surrounded by so much love and support. Whenever I fell down or had a bad day whether it be in competition or in academics, I had someone there supporting me telling me to get back up. Sometime these nudges came from a professor, a friend or a coach, but sometimes they came from fellow Tar Heels who I really barely knew.
As a student at UNC I have been able to really explore so many different classes and find my passions within art and performing. I came in to UNC really unsure of what I wanted to do, but I never really felt judgement in exploring different paths that may not have been considered mainstream. I was always encouraged by my academic advisors to explore what I was good at and what I loved. This is something that was very influential to my major choices. I was able to really push out of my comfort zone and meet so many intelligent and interesting students who truly pushed me to be a stronger artist. My advisors couldn't have been more right.
Being from Toronto, Canada I had no familial ties to UNC. When I first received a call asking to come down to visit I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I went for a visit and just fell in love. I left that visit feeling like I already missed it. I still get that feeling every time I go home for the summer. Chapel Hill has always been this magical bubble I never wanted to leave. I have so much pride for this school. I am forever grateful for the fans, students, coaches, professors and administrators who make this place so special. I am forever in debt to you.
My name is Lizzy Whelan and I am and forever will be a Tar Heel.
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