Emma McDonald '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Emma McDonald and I am a part of the class of 2023 at an all-girls private school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I have attended Girls Preparatory School since the 7th grade. Before I found rowing, I played softball for 12 years and I swam competitively for 4.  I have always loved competition and sports; with that being said, when I found rowing I immediately knew I did not want to stop after high school. I stopped playing softball after my sophomore high school season, and in the fall of my junior year, I decided to try crew. Ever since then, I have only grown as a person and athlete, becoming more competitive, stronger, and a good team leader. I look forward to this upcoming school year as team captain and I am excited to accomplish my goals on and off of the water. I have a gritty, outgoing, and humble personality that allows me to collaborate with my team and form meaningful relationships. I am a hard-working student that is dedicated to all of my passions. Other than rowing, I spend my time volunteering with the Chattanooga Miracle League which is a YMCA-sanctioned baseball team for children with disabilities. The Miracle League means a lot to me because my 9-year-old cousin Landon has muscular dystrophy which causes him to be in a wheelchair all the time. I love to be able to make everyone feel included and see the smiles on their faces when they get to play like normal kids and not be judged for it, I know it means the world to Landon that he can be like every other kid for a little while and have some fun. I also work as a lifeguard at my local country club pool every summer, I have kept this job for 3 years. I am consistent with my responsibilities and anyone can count on me for help or to get work done. In college, I hope to study Criminal Psychology because it is something that has caught my eye for years. More specifically, I want to know why criminals commit such horrific crimes. I want to know what kind of experiences lead up to these actions and possibly learn how to prevent people from doing such things. My aspirations for college are to hopefully gain some experience with law enforcement and become a criminal profiler. I would also like to eventually apply for the FBI Academy. I have explored my interest in Criminal Profiling already by taking a forensics class offered at my school and taking a CSI trip for my winter break. I met detectives and really learned a lot about what I want to do, and even interviewed a criminal psychologist. This is just a little about me, thank you for taking the time to read!