Meet Shannah Mallett, a senior pursuing a major in BA Administration of Justice and a minor in Economics.
Q: Why did you choose Pitt?
I am from a very small town in Georgia that does not have many things close by. Everything closes around 10 pm and you have to drive to get anywhere. When I was first recruited by a Pitt track and field coach, I thought it would be fun to see the city. I came on my visit one weekend and fell in love with the campus and the city of Pittsburgh! I knew that Pitt was where I wanted to be and the place where I would excel.
Q: Why did you choose your CGS major and how does it relate to your future plans?
For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be in the law field. Coming into Pitt I had planned on majoring in Computer Science and Administration of Justice to become a cryptologist. I found out that I did not like computers as much as I had thought, but I fell in love with all of my ADMJ classes. I am now interested in pursuing intellectual property law and working in the sports field. CGS requires an internship for the ADMJ major, and I found an internship at a sports agency. If it weren't for this requirement, I would have never learned how much I enjoyed working in the fast-paced sports environment.
Q: What keeps you busy outside of classes?
I am currently a part of the Varsity Track and Field team here at Pitt! I have been doing track and field my entire life and glad that I have been given the opportunity to continue the sport that I love in college. Aside from track, I am involved in numerous clubs throughout campus.
Currently, I am a member of the Women in Sports and Events (WISE) club, a brother of Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) Pre-Law Fraternity, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and the student-athlete representative for the Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advisory Committee (EIADAC) of the University Senate. All of these activities and clubs keep me insanely busy outside of classes, but I still find time to hang out with my friends exploring the city, and trying new restaurants!
Q: What have been some of your greatest accomplishments and/or challenges here at Pitt?
One of my greatest accomplishments here at Pitt has been throwing far enough to have my name fifth on the Pitt Top Ten List for one of my events on the track team. I was unable to increase my ranks due to COVID, but I plan on increasing my name higher and higher as the years continue.
While track and field is a large role in many of my accomplishments, I am also very proud of my academic career. I was able to dual enroll in high school which has allowed me to graduate in only two years. This accelerated track is insanely busy, and stressful at times, I have still managed to achieve all A's throughout my time at Pitt. As this is only my second year at Pitt, there is an abundance of things that I would still like to accomplish before I leave.
Q: Do you have any advice for your fellow students?
The only advice I would give to fellow students is to learn how to manage your time as efficiently as possible. Attending college and being away from home comes with many positives, but also several negatives. College is where you learn what freedom away from your parents feels like and could be a problem for some. Make sure to focus on why you are here - to learn and gain experience in order to excel in the career of your choice.
That being said, learn how to manage your time in order to shine in classes, but also leave time to kick back and hang out with your friends. Your social life is just as important as your academic career, so make sure you can do both!
Photo Courtesy of Shannah Mallett.