Minta Spears-Women’s Basketball
Minta Spears
Women’s Basketball
Graduate Student
Major: Leadership and Organizational Performance
Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
I chose to attend Vanderbilt because it felt like the right fit for me, academically and athletically. Academically, I love the LOP program I’m in because I’ve learned so much from the classes, professors, and my classmates. Athletically, my coaches and teammates are awesome, genuine people, so I felt at home at Vanderbilt on my visit and am thankful I chose to come to school here.
What are your career goals?
I’m not exactly sure of my exact career goals, but I have some different ideas I’m looking at. I’ve always wanted to coach college basketball, but I’m also interested in sports media, executive coaching, or maybe consulting.
What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
I’ve loved my time at Vanderbilt, and I am amazed at how my program truly creates a learning environment for the students. I’ve found that to be academically successful at Vanderbilt, I always try to have a mindset to learn something new and be open to different ideas and concepts.
How do you manage your demanding schedule?
Managing the schedule of a student-athlete is challenging at times, but I learned a few time-management skills that have helped me. I do homework or write papers when we travel, prioritize my assignments for each week, and write many to-do lists.
What is your ritual before taking a test?
It’s been a while since I’ve taken a test, but I didn’t really have any rituals before I took them. I always try to prepare myself by studying and reviewing as best I can for my classes, and that always took the pressure off of me for taking tests.
What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is a Bible verse found in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.” This has been my favorite quote for a long time because it is applicable to basketball, academics, and anything I do in life.