I wanted to be a part of something greater than just myself...
Meet the Bishops: Get to know a little about Jenn Douglas of the Ohio Wesleyan women's lacrosse team.
Name: Jenn Douglas
Class year: Junior
Major: Zoology
Minor: Environmental science
How/Why did you choose Ohio Wesleyan?
When making my college decision, I chose to attend Ohio Wesleyan because it combined all of the aspects I needed for my academic and athletic goals. OWU’s strong zoology and environmental science programs, with the close proximity to the Columbus Zoo, were extremely important to my decision. I also loved the close-knit town that is within walking distance to campus. The small class sizes and the community feel also helped me to make my decision.
How/Why did you choose your major?
Being a zoology major has allowed me to get an in-depth background for my career path and has allowed me to take classes, such as Animal Behavior, that delve into important knowledge that I will need to work in my field. Also, the zoology department helps students to get a hands-on experience by allowing students to perform research at the Columbus Zoo, where they are able to design their own studies within labs on what interests them.
Why did you choose to compete in sports at Ohio Wesleyan?
Coming to Ohio Wesleyan, I wanted to be a part of something greater than just myself and having the opportunity to play lacrosse at Ohio Wesleyan has given me that. I have been able to join an amazing group of women who continue to push me to be a better person both on and off the field. The strong support network that I have created being a student-athlete at OWU has helped me in my academic success and professional development because of the support and guidance from my coaches and teammates.
What is your number one goal, team or personal, for this season?
My goal for the team this season is to shock the conference with our skills and ability to come together through our diversity. All of my teammates bring something different to the table that helps us to come together and win games, but most importantly having fun while doing so.
What athletic or academic achievement are you most proud of?
The academic accomplishment I am most proud of is having been selected for a grant through the OWU Connection program. This program has allowed me the opportunity to be an intern with Magellanic penguins at the Jacksonville Zoo in Florida. This internship gave me hands-on, interactive learning experiences that allowed me to expand my knowledge in the zoological field. I had daily interactions with the 26 penguins ranging from newborns to 17 years old.
The athletic achievement I am most proud of was the lacrosse team’s overall success last season to take down conference rival Allegheny, which had not been done in several years. We came together as a unit and proudly defeated the other team with confidence and skill. This moment was one of my proudest moments of my lacrosse career.
What did you do to put yourself in that position to achieve that goal/accomplishment?
I was able to receive the grant by working with the OWU Connection office to develop a strong plan to help me accomplish my academic and professional goals. They were able to help me create a resume, a budget, and a proposal statement that would prove to be successful. Working hard in my classes and doing research on the career paths that interested me allowed me the knowledge and background to pursue this opportunity. This hard work, paired with the support from my lacrosse team, made this experience possible.
Similarly, the athletic achievement was due to my team’s hard work and dedication to pushing ourselves to be our best. We were all extremely positive and supportive of one another throughout the entire game. The best part of the win was the promise of Subway footlongs if we won, so throughout the game the motto was “FTF” or “For the Footlongs.”
Is there a specific coach or teammate who has helped you get to where you are?
All of my teammates work to be their best, which pushes me to become my best and continue to compete. My coaches continue to help me to grow in new positions and work to perfect my skills. I am thankful for all of their support throughout the last two seasons and I look forward for this season to come.
If you could have a superpower what would it be?
I would love the ability to transport by snapping my fingers. I love to travel and so being able to go anywhere whenever I want to would be amazing. Also then I would never have to drive or fly again!
What is your favorite place to eat at in Delaware, and what is your go-to dish there?
My favorite place to eat in Delaware is Mi Cerrito. My parents and I go there after every game so it has become a tradition for me and some of my favorite memories during my time at OWU. My favorite dishes are chicken chimichangas and the queso fondido!
If you were told you only had one week left to live, what would be on your bucket list?
If I had one week left to live I would take every moment to travel with my friends and family since they are so important to me. I have always wanted to travel to South Africa and dive with the great white sharks. I think they are stunning creatures and we can learn a lot from them.
by Madison Bridger '21
