SAAC Spotlight: Tessa Scott

Get to know the KU Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) representatives each week through our SAAC Spotlight series. This week’s spotlight is Tessa Scott, a junior rower from De Soto, Kansas. SAAC is composed of appointed representatives from each of KU’s 18 varsity teams and helps promote communication between faculty, administrators, coaches and student-athletes. SAAC members meet monthly to discuss ideas and issues pertinent to KU Athletics, the Big 12 and the NCAA.

SAAC Spotlight: Tessa Scott
SAAC Position: Secretary and Public Relations Chair
Class: Junior
Major: Linguistics
Minors: African and African American Studies, Philosophy
Hometown: De Soto, Kansas

KU
Why did you choose KU?
I was always a Jayhawk fan and I knew I would get a great education here.

How did you choose your major?
The guide for my junior day visit to KU majored in Linguistics so I googled and thought, “This is awesome I think I’ll major in it.”

What’s your favorite class you’ve taken at KU and why?
stronomy 191 because I learned so much, it was actually fun, and because Bruce Twarog is just crazy enough to make it exciting.

Where is the best place to sit for lectures?
In the middle about two or three rows back. Enough to let the instructor know you care but you’re not going to brown nose to get an A.

What advice would you give to incoming KU freshmen?
Don’t be afraid to talk to people in your classes. It makes studying for tests easier and I’ve made a lot of friends that way.

What do you think is the prettiest place on campus?
The view from the back of the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center next to the Union. It looks over Memorial Stadium and the back of campus.

Most underrated place to study on campus?
There’s a reading room next to the Writing Center Roost in Anschutz and it’s small and quiet. It also has comfortable chairs in case you need a quick nap.

What leadership skills have you learned while being a student-athlete at KU?
I’ve learned that you can’t wait for someone else to make a change that you want to see. If you want to see the temperature change on your team, or in any situation you’re in, you have to be a thermostat.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from balancing the demands of being a Division I student-athlete and academics?
I’ve learned to prioritize schoolwork efficiently so I know what needs to get done and what can wait. I’ve also learned to study during the day because sleep is everything.

Popular Culture
Favorite TV show…
Big Bang Theory

Favorite movie…
Ten Things I Hate About You

Favorite book and/or magazine…
When I finish it, it will be The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Favorite singer or musical group…
Twenty One Pilots

Sports
Favorite pro sports team…
Kansas City Chiefs

Favorite athlete…
Tyler Joseph (in his basketball days)

The athlete I would most like to compete against…
Joel Embiid in a game of one-on-one with me disguised as Tyler Self

Favorite athletic memory…
Winning Big 12’s

Team you’re most looking forward to competing against…
K-state

Pre-game/match superstition/Pre-game/match ritual…
I won’t go into detail but lets just say there are a lot of porta-potties at regattas and you have to pay a visit if you’re going to have a good race
 
Extras
In 10 years, I would like to be…
A professor of Linguistics

I would like to trade places for a day with…
Debby Ryan

Best piece of advice you’ve received…
Don’t live the hill before you’re on the hill

If you could have dinner with any 3 people (alive or dead), who would they be?
Tyler Joseph, Josh Dun and Noam Chomsky

Who tweets too much on your team?
Although it’s been said many times, many ways, ~*Daisy Tackett*~

Pop or Soda?
Soda

Cats or Dogs?
Dogs

Early Bird or Night Owl?
Early Bird