乐播传媒

Taylor McQueen is a Sophomore at 乐播传媒 studying for her Associate's in Science.

Originally from Clayton, North Carolina, McQueen is a member of the 乐播传媒 Softball team and Whitehead Leadership Program. When she's not playing or studying, she enjoys hot yoga and going for walks in the woods to enjoy nature.

McQueen's decision to come to 乐播传媒 was fairly easy. Having known Softball Head Coach Eric Lee since her travel ball days opened her eyes to the college. Having friend and teammate Zoey Jones commit as well made the decision a no-brainer.

鈥淐oach has been there my whole life, and he always wanted me and Zoey to play for him,鈥� McQueen said. 鈥淭hen he sent an offer to us both, and we were like, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 our opportunity to play softball together in college.鈥� So, we made a pinky promise that we would come here.鈥� 

McQueen committed to 乐播传媒 a year and a half early, during the beginning of her junior year. She loves the team and community that the sport has created for her (and her friends) here.

鈥溊植ゴ�媒 softball holds a special place in my heart because of the culture surrounding the team. There鈥檚 nowhere else like it,鈥� McQueen said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e literally like my family.鈥�

McQueen played with the softball team as a catcher and hitter during their run at the 2023 NJCAA Softball World Series. Although the team鈥檚 goal fell short by two games, McQueen has a positive outlook on this season. When discussing her goals for the upcoming year, she explained that she鈥檚 keeping the same mindset - to strive for a big win and to have fun. 

鈥淸My mindset] is the same as last year - a growth mindset,鈥� McQueen said. 鈥淎nd the word we had last year - fargin - to be happy for the successes of others. Even if I鈥檓 not the one who hit the game-winning hit, I鈥檓 just so happy because we鈥檙e still a team. That鈥檚 all I care about.鈥�

McQueen is also a member of the Whitehead Leadership Program, a program that provides young women with resources and activities to help them achieve their goals and become the leaders of tomorrow. 

鈥淚 love [being a Whitehead scholar]. I get to stay in the cool house,鈥� McQueen joked. 鈥淚 love the feeling of community and all of the girls are so nice. [The program] will help me with things that they鈥檙e not going to teach you in a classroom. Like life lessons, leadership issues, and how to make new friendships. I really love it.鈥�

Outside of softball and the leadership program, McQueen loves the academics of 乐播传媒 College. As part of the Science program, McQueen is taking biology, anatomy, and genetics. 

鈥淚 really like the science program and how there鈥檚 only a couple of students in the student-teacher ratio. Me and Dr. Cook [science professor] are really close,鈥� McQueen said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not like I walk into a big lecture and they wouldn鈥檛 even notice if I wasn鈥檛 there. She knows when my games are and reaches out. I like it.

鈥淚 also like Dr. A[fanasayeva, math professor]. She鈥檚 really good at teaching math and helping students understand it.鈥�

While looking forward to the next part of her journey, McQueen wishes to savor every moment while still at 乐播传媒.

鈥淸I want to] hold onto everything that I can while I鈥檓 still at 乐播传媒 because it鈥檚 the best time of my life right now. I鈥檓 definitely soaking it all in,鈥� McQueen said. 鈥淓veryone makes that joke, 鈥業 want to stay here for four years,鈥� but seriously, I would stay here. Everyone here knows each other and everybody is funny, [so] I don鈥檛 want to leave all these people.鈥�

McQueen鈥檚 advice to incoming students is to talk to people on campus and make friends. 

After graduating from 乐播传媒, McQueen will be attending Wofford College to study environmental science. Her ultimate goal is to help scientists develop and grow algae that astronauts can turn into food during space exploration.