BUCKHANNON – In this edition of 15 Questions With…we interview senior swimmer Beth O’Neill to see what she enjoys about being a Buccaneer and life in general.
Enjoy!
1. What has been your favorite athletic moment at Buckhannon-Upshur that you participated in?
My first swim meet was one I don’t think I’ll forget. I was so nervous and excited, and even though I didn’t do very well, I had so much fun competing against the other teams and alongside my teammates.
2. Describe your toughest practice at Buckhannon-Upshur.
There was one practice I really didn’t want to go to. I was tired and in a bad mood and wanted to stay home more than practice. But I went anyway, and found that, surprisingly, I wasn’t as tired when I left practice as when I arrived.
3. Do you have a favorite saying from one of your head coaches?
Not much talking goes on at swim practice since we’re all underwater. Our coaches usually just say Ttake your mark…go!” to start us off on a set. That, or telling us to put the lane lines away after practice.
4. What was or is your favorite class you have taken at Buckhannon-Upshur and who taught it? Why was it your favorite?
I’m a huge music nerd and I’ve always enjoyed the choir classes taught by Mr. Smallridge. He’s taught me so much and helped me advance my musical abilities. I don’t know where I would be without him.
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5. What is your favorite thing about being a Buccaneer?
I love the sense of community. People from all over town come and watch sports events, and friends that might not otherwise be interested in sports come in support of their friends on the team. I like that we can all connect over things we all enjoy.
6. If you were asked to play another sport, what would it be and why?
If the school had a table-tennis team I’d join in a heartbeat, or an Uno team.
7. Who is your hero and why?
My mom and dad. They both work so hard to give my siblings and I good lives and to teach us to be good people. They’ve sacrificed so much for us, and I’m so grateful for what they’ve given me.
8. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be the kind of person that helps people. I want to be kind and intelligent and to be a person that people know they can go to for help
9. What are your initial plans after graduation this spring?
I’m hoping to go to SVU (Southern Virginia University) and study Music Therapy. It’s a relatively new field that holds a lot of potential, and I’m excited to study it. I would love to do some traveling before leaving for college, but that doesn’t seem too likely at the moment.
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10. What question do you hate to answer?
“What did you do over break?” Nothing. I sat at home and re-read Little Women and played Minecraft, nothing new. It’s what I do every weekend.
11. Who is the best athlete in your family?
Our foreign exchange student, Milo Baumann.
12. Do you have a favorite vacation spot? If so, where?
My family has always gone to Disney World for our family vacations. I love walking around the parks with my family and riding our favorite rides. I especially love eating the foods from different cultures at EPCOT.
13. Social media…in favor of it or wish it would go away?
I’m in favor of social media. It definitely can be a very negative influence on our lives, but I see so much good come out of it that I think the pros outweigh the cons.
14. What is the worst movie you have ever seen? Best movie you have ever seen?
2001: A Space Odyssey is definitely the worst movie ever. It drags on forever. You could cut the runtime in half by getting rid of so many unnecessarily long shots. It’s time we accept the fact that some “artistic choices” aren’t good. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, is hands down the best movie. The cinematography is great and I think it’s a good addition to the Star Wars saga. I love the music and writing and the character arcs. I could talk for hours about how it’s a perfect sequel.
15. What advice would you give to a young athlete ready to start his/her time as a Buccaneer?
It’s going to be hard, and you’re going to want to quit. Sometimes it’s going to suck, but you just have to keep trying. You’re never going to progress if you give up. It’s a lot easier said than done.
