By Sarah Davis | Echo
In the spirit of Mother's Day, The Echo sought out students to celebrate here at Taylor. The following women possess many motherly qualities, providing comfort to homesick freshman and stability to reckless seniors. Despite their lack of actual motherhood experience, the following women take care of their respective wings and floors around campus. Their contributions to the Taylor community deserve recognition. Like their own mothers, these women are making Taylor a better place one hug at a time.
Mackenzie Miller
Senior, 3rd Breuninger
1. Tell us about your first experience with motherhood. Who on your wing first told you you were the wing mom, and what did you do to earn this highly regarded title?
"I think I have always been the soccer-mom type. I am protective and like to take care of my girls on 3rd Breu. It wasn't the first instance, but this semester I was carrying my laundry down the hall and walked past a girls' room with their door open. I saw them picking at a scab on their arm and yelled, 'Don't pick! You will make it scar!' I just kept walking, and she yelled after me, 'Okay MOM, geeze.'"
2. What are your motherly habits? What are mom things you're always doing for the women on your floor, or asking them to do?
"When I asked girls on my floor, they said I have a personality that cares for people, a loving touch and that I am there to comfort when they need it. The women on my floor said I'm affirming and give good advice. I'm an encourager, and I love being a cheerleader for others. I like to write notes to the girls on my floor, especially when I know they are going through something rough. Girls are always coming to borrow things from me. A cup of sugar, my shoes, a Band-Aid. I am known to have everything. Also, I love to sleep and take a nap every Sunday afternoon and the whole floor knows I am unavailable during this time."
3. Share a story about when your motherly instinct saved the day.
"There was a freshman on my floor who was trying to get to know this guy, but they couldn't find anywhere to talk. They couldn't get off campus either because they didn't have cars, so they would just walk the Loop a million times trying to have a semi-private conversation. I took them to the park in Marion and just dropped them off and picked them up three hours later. They were very appreciative and are still happily together."
4. Tell us about your mom. Are you like her? Different from her? In what ways?
"People tell me I am nice, but my mother is literally a saint. She is 100 times nicer than me! She is absolutely selfless. I admire her for her deep love for her family and others."
Amanda Getgen
Sophomore, 3rd Center Olson
1. Tell us about your first experience with motherhood. Who on your wing first told you you were the wing mom and what did you do to earn this highly regarded title?
"My first experience with motherhood was during Mom Week my freshman year, because everyone knows 3CO as the hot moms of campus (shoutout to 3CO aka the best wing on campus), so we need to celebrate the motherhood that we each have. We have activities we do to earn mom points, in order to win the title of 'ultimate mom.' So I went pretty hard to earn the title and won it. Previously, the 'ultimate mom' won the last four years and she graduated, so I decided I wanted to win Mom Week my four years here at Taylor. So far I have been victorious and have won 'ultimate mom' for the last two years."
2. What are your motherly habits? What are mom things you're always doing for the women on your floor, or asking them to do?
"Some of my motherly habits include finding out what is going on in everyone's life and going to everyone's intramural games. I coach all of the Third East Wengatz's intramural teams (shoutout to 3EW), but most of the time I'm really only motherly during Mom Week."
3. Share a story about when your motherly instinct saved the day.
"One time my motherly instinct saved the day when a freshman, Jackie Hanson, forgot her lunch. I wanted to save the campus from her getting hangry, so I brought her a lunch that she left at home."
4.Tell us about your mom. Are you like her? Different from her? In what ways?
"My mom's name is Beth, and she is pretty swag. I would say we are pretty different, but similar in a few ways. I'm definitely a lot more outgoing than my mom. But my mom is the greatest cook that I know, (and) also the greatest person that I know."
Marissa Kneer
Senior, 3rd Center English
1. Tell us about your first experience with motherhood. Who on your wing first told you you were the wing mom and what did you do to earn this highly regarded title?
"My sophomore year, my roommate was gone, and I was living in a suite full of freshmen. I assumed a sort of mothering-type role, trying to make sure they got to where they needed to be, knew how to get there and had all their questions answered. The nickname 'Mama' was started by an upperclassman on the wing during that year. Since then, it stuck. Each year, new freshmen come in, and I am immediately introduced as 'Mama' instead of by my real name. Now there is even a hashtag that comes up every time I say something motherly: #motherknowsbest."
2. What are your motherly habits? What are mom things you're always doing for the women on your floor, or asking them to do?
"If you ask the women on my floor, they say I give good advice and tell it like it is. I always make sure everyone is dressed for the weather. I listen and give thoughtful support, which has earned me trust with the wing."
3. Share a story about when your motherly instinct saved the day.
"A girl on my wing sliced into her finger while attempting to slice a lemon. Next thing I know, she and a friend come down the hallway screaming, 'MAMA!' We got out the first aid kit. Slowed the bleeding. Patched up the finger. Saved the limb without having to amputate. All in a day's work."
4. Tell us about your mom. Are you like her? Different from her? In what ways?
"I am very different from my mother in many ways, but one of the ways we are alike is through our willingness to bring people under our wing. She has taught me that it is important to pass along wisdom. I have a feeling that if she had had a nickname in college, it would have been something along the lines of 'Mama.'"
