University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Spotlight - Melissa Ross
10/15/2015 | Women's Swimming & Diving
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| Spider Bytes | |
| Class: | Senior |
| Hometown: | Warrington, Pa. |
| High School: | Central Bucks South |
| Major(s): | Biology |
Check back for a visit with a different Spider student-athlete in the Wells Fargo Spider Spotlight.
Melissa Ross won gold last February in the 200 Butterfly for the Spiders, part of the team's fifth-straight A-10 Championship. This summer, Ross and her family make a trek through the mountains of Utah and she showed off her phoography skills, which she shared here throughout this piece.
Meet Melissa...
Career aspirations: I am currently in the process of applying to medical school, and I hope to eventually do pediatric clinical epidemiology research with a public health focus.
Three words to describe yourself: Passionate, Punny, and Focused
Your strengths: I love to work hard and overcome challenges – nothing makes me happier than conquering a task I had previously thought was impossible. I'm also fortunate that my favorite 
event is my best event (and the event no one else ever wants to do).
You are working to improve what in your swimming: I'm trying to improve my ability to compartmentalize my life better, and focus purely on swimming whenever I'm in the pool. I want to minimize the impact of life's daily distractions on my ability to perform in the water. Also, I've been working on my walls since I've been 12 years old. Maybe this is the year they finally improve?
Favorite meal locally: Shyndigz. Yes, cake can be its own meal.
Favorite home cooked meal (and who makes it): I love whenever my younger brother cooks! Sorry Mom…
A song and/or artist you listen to before you race: I've had the same pre-race song since eighth grade: “Check Yes Juliet” by We the Kings…I was in an pre-teen angsty phase I guess, but it works, and I'm not about to mess with something that works.
Most embarrassing thing on your playlist: I should probably be embarrassed by the significant amount of Hannah Montana on there.
What would you sing on Karaoke night: The “Friends” theme song (shout out to apartment 1004).
What most people don't know about you: I am SUCH a science nerd. If you ever want to talk 
about organic synthesis reactions or major histocompatibility complexes, I'm your girl.
If you could travel anywhere in the world: I would love to go to New Zealand.
Hero: My parents – they are the hardest working and most loving people that I know. I hope that someday I will be able to provide my children with the same wonderful childhood that my parents have given my brother and I.
Favorite childhood TV show: Apparently, I loved Sesame Street. Please refer to my previous response about being a proud nerd.
If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive: I would love to have dinner with my grandparents. As a young child, I had always loved seeing them, but now that I am older I think I would value that time with them even more, given the opportunity. Also, there is so much that people my age can learn from the generations before us – they lived incredible lives and have amazing stories to share!
If you could have any superpower: The ability to teleport would make the walk from my apartment to D-hall a whole lot more enjoyable.
What zoo animal best encapsulates your personality: Definitely the koala.
Who is your funniest teammate? Maggie
Messiest teammate? Me (…sorry Dunstan)
What style or clothes item do you want to come back into fashion: Sweatpants! Not that they were ever in fashion to begin with, but a girl can dream.
What is your favorite book? “My Sister's Keeper” by Jodi Picoult is my favorite book, but the Harry Potter series will always have a special place in my heart (and on my bookshelf).
What would you try if you could not fail? I would embrace my true lifelong goal of becoming a sprinter.
What is your favorite holiday memory? When I was younger my entire extended family would come to our house to celebrate Passover. It was always the best night of the year, even though the adults made me sit at the kid's table.
What would be the name of your band? Car Door Concussions
Players Mentioned
