NIU senior gymnast Tanya Rachan set career highs, garnered numerous accolades and took part at the NCAA Regionals in her final year as Huskie. Rachan sat down with the Northern Star to reflect on her time at NIU and to take a look at what her future holds.

Northern Star: What is your favorite memory from your time here as well as your worst?

Tanya Rachan: My favorite memory probably has to be getting a 9.900 on floor. Never gotten that until my senior year, toward the end of the season I was getting a couple 9.800s and everyone on the team was kind of crossing their fingers for me. I got it first at the state meet and it was just an awesome feeling. My worst memory is probably not competing to my full potential at regionals.

NS: What has your time been like from freshman year to your senior season?

TR: Just feeling more comfortable and having more experience. I feel like I’ve learned a lot this year, too. There are things I’ve done this year that I never did as a freshman. I credit that to my coach Sam Morreale; he’s really helped me.

NS: What have you taken from the experience of being a full-time athlete and full-time student?

TR: It taught me organization. With being an athlete you always have somewhere you have to be. Through doing that, though, it keeps you in shape and helps you stay on top of your schoolwork more. NIU athletics and the whole NIU team is very supportive of student athletes. Whenever I needed help studying or needed a tutor, it was available for me.

NS: What are your career goals after graduating from NIU?

TR: Starting in August, I’m going to be attending graduate school at Southern Illinois University. I will be studying to be a dentist.

NS: What made you want to become a dentist?

TR: I wanted to go into the health field. I wanted to help people. I like that dentists can build relationships with their patients, that’s very important to me. I wanted to do something challenging; I don’t feel like I’m ready to be done with school yet. I think it’s cool I can go four more years and get my doctorate degree. I felt it was a good choice for me; I’m good with my hands, so I feel like being a dentist you need a little bit of art.

NS: Any advice for your fellow gymnasts or any students at NIU?

TR: My advice would just be to buckle down right away and get good grades as soon as you can. GPA is so important, especially if you want to go on to graduate school. Just give everything one hundred percent whether it be in the classroom or on the field.