Staff Spotlight: Shae-Lynn Henderson

Photo courtesy of Shae-Lynn Henderson

Tell me about yourself. What is your class year? Where are you from? What is your role on The Herald’s staff?

“My name is Shae-Lynn but everyone just calls me Shae. I am from Boksburg Gauteng in South Africa, and I came to the United States in August to study here at Meredith. I am a freshman, so my class year is 2025. As for my role on The Herald, I recently became a Staff Writer after starting out as a Contributing Writer, and I usually write feature articles.”

What is your favorite part of being on The Herald’s staff?

“The best part about being part of The Herald is that it is a place where I can contribute to something meaningful and bigger than myself. The stories that not only I but other staff [members] write are pieces that bring awareness to important topics that have [an] impact on students and the college. What The Herald does is both fun and important. I am always learning something new. I’ve learnt a lot about the writing process, but I have also learnt a lot about the staff, college and community through article ideas and topics of conversation in our weekly meetings.”

What is your major and why did you choose it? Do you have a career path in mind?

“My intended major is biology but I am also looking into possible majors/minors in psychology and math. I chose my major based on wanting to be a neuropsychologist. I am fascinated by the brain and how it works. I am very passionate about advocating for mental health and it drives me to better understand mental health issues and break the stigmas that surround it. That’s where biology and psychology come in, and math is something I have recently come to enjoy. Dr. Hendrix, my calculus professor, has really encouraged me to pursue it.”

What kinds of things are you involved in on campus?

“I am currently a part of The Herald as a Staff Writer and The Colton Review as an editor. I am also on the field hockey team as the goalkeeper which I am absolutely loving; [the sport] happens to be one of the main reasons I came to Meredith College. Those activities, along with classes, have kept my schedule quite full so far, but I am hoping to get even more involved in more activities in the off-season when I will have a bit more time.”

How has your experience at Meredith been so far?

“My experience at Meredith so far has been nothing short of exhilarating. Even within such a short period of time, I have grown so much as an individual, teammate and student, and I have learnt so much. Being so far from home can be tough, but I have felt so welcomed, and really diving into things and being involved has really helped me to make good friends who have only heightened my experience. I have been afforded so many wonderful opportunities while at Meredith, and it’s absolutely crazy to think of how much I have done in about 10 weeks!”

What book/movie/show/song can you read/watch/play over and over again without getting bored?

“This is probably the toughest question to answer because my answer is usually that I like so many different genres of books, movies and songs that it is nearly impossible to pick just one. I love classic late 90’s and early 2000’s movies. Mamma Mia is always fun to watch, and Friends is the absolute best. For music, I love a good mix of everything. Book wise, I love a story that has twists and turns and really make[s] you think.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I do not have too much free time, which I actually mostly like because I like to keep busy, and the things that fill up my time are things that I am passionate about. However, when I do have free time, I always like to check in with my family back home and catch up on what I’ve missed or spend time watching a movie or comfort show. I also really like to take the time to spend with my friends discovering new places (mostly for me at least) in Raleigh.”

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“I have been fortunate to have many role models in my life and endless amounts of advice that have guided me on my journey and to where I am today. One piece of advice that will always stick with me is advice from my dad, which is to ‘always do the things other people cannot or do not want to do.’ The idea behind it is that no matter what, you will always benefit. By taking on the challenge, you will either learn a new skill or you will stand out. This piece of information sticks with me in any decision I make and is yet to steer me wrong. It has led me to some of my greatest accomplishments so far, and I hope that it will resonate with other people too because no words could be more true in my opinion.”

Interview conducted by Rania Abushakra, Staff Writer