Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Part of a regular series.

Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes who are members of their respective institutions' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In addition to providing feedback on the student-athlete experience, conference and institutional SAAC members also offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. Click here for more information on the function of SAAC at the NCAA level.

Grace Dyer
Saint Martin's
Senior * Women's Golf

Hometown: Tacoma, WA
College major: Business administration
Year in school: Junior

Extracurricular activities: Spending time outdoors and with family and friends.

Why did you choose to attend SMU: I wanted to be close to home, and it seemed wrong to play a sport so far away from my parents and grandparents when they had watched me and encouraged me growing up. I wanted them to continue to be able to do so. I also liked the idea of small class sizes, and of course who could say no to playing for Bob Grisham?

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why? My favorite class that I have taken in college would have to be cultural anthropology. We think a lot about the complex reasons that people are the way that they are, but that class really simplified everything. The core of human nature, and how even though we are all completely different, for the most part we all have the same desires and motivators.Highlight

Who is your favorite professor you've had in college and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her? My favorite professor at Saint Martin's so far would be my finance professor, Denis DuBois. Even though the actual material wasn't always stimulating, he taught with so much passion it was more difficult not to pay attention. He also genuinely cared about all of his students, particularly the athletes. After returning from a tournament he always asked how it went and was understanding about missing class.

Years involved in SAAC: Three.

The reason I chose to get involved in SAAC: When I came to SMU as a freshman and attended basketball games I was shocked by how few students were there. I wanted to get involved in promoting the athletes, and just raise awareness for all of my classmates that work their tails off in and out of class. I wanted our community to enjoy watching us play as much as we enjoyed playing.Highlight

Most memorable SAAC activity: Before our televised basketball game this year we held a student pep rally. One of the activities was a classic car bash for Make-a-Wish. It was a dollar per swing and all of the proceeds went to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. It was really fun to spray paint the car and then watch everyone smash it to pieces. There was a crowd that would cheer with every swing. It was really cool.

Favorite part of GNAC SAAC retreat: The best part of the retreats for me is meeting students from other schools and sports that share similar goals as I do regarding their school and even life.

If I could change one NCAA rule, it would be: I want to be able to make bets on the golf course.

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics? Definitely time management. It's easier said than done,though. I still oftentimes save assignments until the last minute and end up stressing out more about them than I should.

What does it mean to be a Division II student-athlete? The phrase “life in balance” has always summed up Division II athletics for me. That's really what it's all about. Division II athletes have the ability to compete at a high level while also really enjoying the college experience with classes instead of tutors and having friends outside of your sports team. In Division II I feel like I have gotten the best of both worlds.

Future goals after school: I would love to work in the business side of golf, particularly in marketing and sales. If I could travel around and get paid to talk to people about golf my life would be complete.

Biggest obstacle overcame during collegiate career: Self doubt. When I used to have a bad round in a tournament I would think that I couldn't do it, or that I wasn't capable. I learned that it wasn't my lack of ability stopping me, but my lack of self belief. Now when I have a bad round it's not because I can't do it, but simply that I didn't do it that day, and that's just how it goes sometimes, in golf and in life.

Best advice I’d give to an incoming freshman: Relax and enjoy this time in your life. What you shot in a particular round or who won a game will not be what you remember from your experience as a collegiate athlete. It will be the people who influenced you and the joy the game brought you. As hard as it is to remember sometimes, it is just a game, so if you aren't having fun why are you playing?

If I could spend the day with one person (past or present), who would it be? If I could spend the day with anyone I would choose Maya Angelou, mostly because anytime I hear a quote that really resonates with me, she said it or wrote it. I think a day with her would be incredible.

Favorite sports team: Seahawks!!

Favorite athlete: Jordan Spieth, because we are the same age, and he lives and plays with an incredible amount of grace and skill.

Most memorable sports-related moment: I think making a putt outside 15 feet is one of the best feelings in golf -- it never gets old. Because for it to go in, line and pace both need to be nearly perfect. One in particular that I made from about 35 feet on the fifth hole at Coeur d'Alene golf course seemed to break three times before it got to the hole, then it sat on the lip for what felt like a lifetime before it dropped for birdie. That was a pretty cool putt.

One thing that people don't know about me is: I have a pug obsession.