Name: Shannon McCarthy
JMU Sport Program: Women’s Tennis
Class Year: 2022
Where was your hometown when you were a JMU student-athlete?
My hometown was Mount Laurel, NJ.
What JMU varsity sport did you participate in, what years did you participate, what was your jersey number and what position did you play?
I played Women’s Tennis from 2019-2022.
What was your major/minor while studying at JMU?
While I was a student-athlete at JMU, I Majored in Media Arts and design with a concentration in Creative Advertising.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in at JMU? And, what was your role in each of the organizations?
I played on the club tennis team my freshman year (2018-2019) and participated in the Dukes LEAD leadership academy (2021-2022).
What is your current job title? Where do you work? What is a brief summary of your job description?
I work for the Philadelphia Eagles as an associate buyer in the merchandising department. I help plan and buy all apparel for our pro shops to sell. I also help during game days and any events held at Lincoln Financial Field to ensure sales run smoothly.
Are you working in the field you thought you would when you were in school at JMU, or have you gone in a different direction?
While I was studying at JMU, I wanted to work in the fashion industry. Since graduating, I have been working in fashion and plan to continue in that direction.
Please share any additional information about what you've been up to since your days as a JMU student-athlete.
After I graduated from JMU , I went on to study fashion media at Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design in London. I interned in New York with a celebrity stylist. I also have been visiting friends over the past year who I met during my time at JMU! Including my teammates and coaches!
How has your academic and athletic experience from JMU prepared you for your personal and professional life following your time on campus as a student-athlete?
My time as a student-athlete prepared me for life after college more than I thought it ever could. Being a student-athlete is very challenging, but it pushed me into the strongest and most confident version of myself. This has helped me a ton personally and professionally. Student-athletes have a different type of mindset and passion that carries over into the workforce, which is what has set me apart from others. I have strived in the workforce because of the expectations that were set during my time on the tennis team. JMU tennis has taught me to believe I can do anything I put my mind to.
What is your favorite campus memory?
Cheesy Thursday was simply the best day of the week!
Do you have a favorite moment from your experience as a student-athlete?
I will always remember when my team won a conference championship in 2021. It was a dream come true. I also will never forget senior day; That was such a special moment for me as my career was coming to an end. It meant the world to me to see all my friends there and my teammates making it such a special day. Lastly, I really enjoyed when my coach let me plan and run practice one day. The day “Coach McCarthy” was born and practice was complete chaos.
Who were your most influential staff member(s) and/or mentor(s) during your time JMU? (and how were they affiliated with you...coach, professor, teammate, parent, sibling, etc.) And, what is the best advice you received from them?
My coach Shelley Jaudon of course! She was and still is my biggest mentor. She took a chance on me and let me live out my lifelong dream of playing tennis at JMU. Not only that, but she was always the first person to check in on me and help me with whatever it was. Shelley never gave up on me as a player or a person. Jake Van-Roekel was my academic advisor and one of my favorite people. He really went above and beyond as an advisor that I could go on for days. Jake always told me to just calm down and believe in myself. Jackie Leonard was my athletic trainer and an extremely important person to me. She didn't just help keep my body healthy, but she helped me mentally as well. She's family to me. Nate Adams was my strength coach and made me laugh every day. He really cared about helping me do more in the gym. I still get workouts from him to this day. He cares so much about his players and gives the best pep talks before matches. Nate motivated me so much as an athlete and still does in the gym.
What did your time as a JMU student-athlete mean to you?
JMU tennis helped me find my purpose. I felt a sense of belonging and family. I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. It felt like home to me and it still does. My teammates and coaches were the reason I was able to grow a ton as a player, but even more so as a person. Being a student-athlete was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but also the most rewarding thing I've ever done.
What was your favorite part of being a JMU student-athlete?
The small community. No matter what, every athlete and staff member supported each other and came together in a time of need. I genuinely felt the love and support as a whole. Our athletics community was so strong and you just don't find that at every school. It was also really cool to be surrounded by so many athletes that share the same passion and drive for their sport.
What did you love most about your team and JMU Athletics?
I loved that my team was a family. We were so close they felt more like my sisters. We supported one another through everything. My team and I got hit with some crazy challenges between Covid-19 and the CAA conference ban, but we never gave up. It was really cool to be a part of a team with such a strong culture. JMU athletics supported me when I really needed it and I can never thank them enough. I will always appreciate the support every team had for the other and the staff for being our fearless leaders.
Did you have any competition/game day traditions or superstitions? (wearing the same socks, not washing your jersey, reciting something before you competed, etc.)
I always had to wear a specific necklace. I also had to straighten my hair and have it in a high pony or bun.
Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself starting out as a student-athlete at JMU? What advice do you give to current JMU student-athletes to help encourage them during their journey at JMU?
I would tell myself and current athletes to not just appreciate the good days, but more so the hard ones. Those are the days that you will really learn and grow from. It's the challenges and hardships that make you who you are. Trust the process and give yourself credit because what you're doing is already so much to be proud of. Lastly, really take in all the little moments with your team because once it's over you'll miss it forever. It truly is like no other experience.
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