Thao Luong is a sophomore member of the Knox Volleyball and Track & Field team. Luong is an outside for volleyball and a jumper for the track and field team. Luong intends to major in Biochemistry and French with a minor in Health Studies. Luong is a Dare to Care Peer educator, a SAAC representative, and an AHEC Scholar.
1. What is your favorite Knox memory?
My favorite Knox memory was setting up the bonfire last year and how my suite had a nice movie night after that.
2. What is your favorite all-time memory playing your sport?
Volleyball: It would have to be my junior year club team season of high school, where I fell in love with volleyball. Track: 2020 conference where I PR'd in two out of three of my events.
3. What do you love most about your sport?
Volleyball is a sport in which you can truly not succeed if you're missing a link. I love that interconnectedness and how you can't even lose focus for a second. Track gave me back the feeling of doing individual sports again, so I loved seeing improvement just based on me.
4. What do you like least about your sport?
I think there are things that you may not like about your sport when you're in the moment, like the mentally frustrating times, or how tired you feel during practice. But you realize those are all blessings in disguise later, making you a stronger and better person.
5. How has your experience with your sport changed over time?
For volleyball, as I've become more skilled, the way that I think about the game has changed. It's almost like playing chess at this point. You read the court, and are able to create a plan for victory. And that just makes it that much more fun! For track, I'm still relatively new at the sport, but I've grown a lot in jumping. I used to have to focus solely on technique, but now, I am able to think more of just going all out and jumping as far as I can.
6. Why did you choose Knox?
I chose Knox because of the people and because it offered the tools and resources to help me accomplish what I wanted in the future.
7. What do you love about Knox?
I love how engaged the student body is with the campus and how personalized my education feels. I know that if I'm ever struggling with anything, there will always be someone there who is willing to help me. I also love all the professional opportunities offered to students.
8. If you could travel/live anywhere in the world where would it be?
I would love to travel to Korea.
9. What has changed most from being a high school student to being a college student?
I feel like I have more autonomy over my time, and my future creeps closer and closer every day, which scares me a bit.
10. What do you like most about Galesburg/Galesburg Community?
I like how friendly everyone is and the small town makes me feel welcome. I live in a pretty big city, so seeing how friendly and close everyone is was a nice change.
11. If you could play any sport (that you do not already play) what would it be? (does not have to be a sport at Knox)
I played basketball in high school and I used to swim, so I would say I'd like to participate in those sports again at some point.
12. What advice would you give your younger self knowing where you are today?
Calm down and believe in yourself. You do better that way and your best is enough.
13. What do you enjoy most about Division 3?
I appreciate that I can be a student first before athlete. I've never had to worry about explaining to my coaches how I might need to skip/be late for practice due to a lab or a test at Knox. D3 athletics provides me the circumstances to excel in both academics and my sport, which leads to a better work/life balance.
14. What is your favorite movie?
A Star is Born is my current favorite.
15. What is one tip you would give an incoming FY?
Try out a bunch of new things to figure out what you like, and take the opportunities presented to you.
