BLACKSBURG – As Virginia Tech Spring 2019 Commencement approaches, it's a good time to visit with Tech women's soccer players who finished off their careers with the Hokies last fall. In a final "Senior Sendoff" Q&A, they answered questions about both their academic and athletic time here at Tech.
Our next senior is former midfielder Heather Timothy.
Q: Heather, what will you be earning your degree in?
HT: "Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a minor in green engineering"
Q: Why did you pursue this educational path?
HT: "I chose to major in civil engineering because I can directly impact the public in a positive way. I am concentrating in land development, which allows me to work on various projects such as sports stadiums, neighborhoods, parks, and any other community developments. I am excited to see what I work on everyday come to life and create sustainable development for people to enjoy."
Q: Are you walking later this week?
HT: "Yes, I will be walking in May. My mom, dad, brother, sister, and grandparents will be there."
Q: What are your future plans?
HT: "I'm taking time off after graduation to travel throughout Europe for a month and then enjoying family time before I move to Arlington, Virginia. Starting in the fall, I am working with Kimley-Horn in Reston, Virginia on their land development team. I am excited to start my career at such a successful firm and look forward to making an immediate impact within the company."
Q: Outside of playing soccer, what was impactful in your educational process and why?
HT: "The civil engineering program has been outstanding throughout my four years. The professors I have had and the courses in our curriculum prepared me well to start work confident in my abilities and passionate about what I am doing."
Q: What will earning your degree from Virginia Tech mean to you?
HT: "Earning my degree from Virginia Tech will mean that all the hard work throughout the last four years has paid off. My experience juggling engineering and soccer was extremely hard at times, but I am proud to be receiving a degree from one of the top civil engineering programs in the country."
Q: What was your favorite memory during your time here with VTWS?
HT: "My favorite memory on the field was when we beat UVA this past season in a torrential downpour. I will never forget everyone sliding around the field in the rain after, and to me, that game was the start of our success in the 2018 season."
Q: What will you miss most about being on the VTWS team?
HT: "The thing I will miss most about being on the VTWS team is being with my girls every day. Everyone on the team this year and in years past impacted my life in such a tremendous way. I am so blessed to have had created the relationships I did throughout my four years. I know I have made "forever friends" that will always hold a special place in my heart."
Q: What advice would you give to the underclassmen or the newest recruits coming into the program?
HT: "The advice that I would give to the underclassmen or the newest recruits coming into the program is to take advantage of every opportunity possible - within the athletic department, in your major, and throughout the university. I will never regret any experiences I had at VT because they made me who I am today. I am so thankful to have gone to a university that provided so many opportunities to grow as a soccer player, an engineer, and a person."
Q: What was the most impactful thing to you, with being a part of this program?
HT: "The most impactful thing to me with being a part of this program was the groups I got to be a part of in the athletic department. Reyna, Shelby, Natalie, Danny, and Dr. B [Gary Bennett] do such an amazing job with groups like SAAC and Next Level Leadership. These programs shaped me as a leader and their guidance and support was vital to my athletic experience."
