Alumna Reflection: Tara Lonergan

Tara Longergan graduated from the Mount in May 2013 with a degree in History as a four-year letterwinner in women's basketball. Behind the ARCC recently caught up with the former forward to see what she has been up to since graduation.

            Since graduating from The Mount last year, I have become a full-time nanny for a two- and four-year-old who live in the same town as me. It’s tiring and stressful at times, but mostly it is a blast to get to hang out with two kids all day that love to laugh and play. I also work once a week at ValeU Group, which is an unclaimed property and asset recovery agency, as an asset investigator. Here, we find people's and company’s lost money that was recovered and never claimed by the individual. My boss is extremely laid back, and I’m just learning the in's and out's of the business for now.
 
          After playing basketball for four years away at school, I missed out on a lot of my other siblings’ sporting events. It was awesome getting to watch my sister play college basketball at Molloy for the first time (She’s a junior.) and along with a former teammate of mine. I was also able to watch my younger brother play on the JV basketball team for his high school and be the first team to go undefeated. I also tried out coaching for the first time and coached my sister’s 8^th grade town team, which was definitely an experience in itself.



Tara with two of her siblings, Paul and Paige.

            Looking back at my time at The Mount I would have to say I miss my teammates the most. I am still very close to many of my former teammates, but its different when you don’t get to see and play with them everyday. Living in New York, I was able to attend some of the games up here this past season, and I missed the team atmosphere that took place during the game. My favorite memory would have to be beating Seton Hall, which was the first time The Mount ever beat a BCS school, and beat Monmouth in the first round of playoffs during my senior year. I had my up's and down's while being at The Mount and after looking back at it this past year, I would definitely do it all over again.


Tara with (L to R) fellow 2013 alumna Selina Mann, 2014 grad Jessie Kaufman and current junior Jody Chickey.

Senior Reflections: Jessica Kaufman

You know how everyone tells you that college will be the fastest four years of your life??? Well they’re not lying! Recently, I strutted across the graduation stage, snapped a selfie, accepted my diploma, and here I am: Jessie Kaufman – Mount Alum.

 

The Mount was great to me all four years.  From coaches, teammates, classmates, roommates, staff, teachers and friends, everyone welcomed me with open arms.  The community here at the Mount is one unlike any other.  It is unique, and it is something that I will truly always appreciate. This community makes this mountain a home to all that come to visit, and the lucky ones who decide to stay.

 

For as long as I can remember, my life has revolved around sports.  Playing basketball at the Mount has been a long, but extremely rewarding journey.  The memories I’ve made, relationships I’ve built, and goals I have accomplished are ones that will never be forgotten.  I am thankful to Coach Whit for giving me the opportunity to be a part of his program.  I thank all the coaches who I was able to play for here at the Mount, for all their guidance throughout my career. I am forever indebted to my teammates who became lifelong friends, and my family for their endless amount of love, support, dedication and confidence that they supplied me with throughout my entire career.  The Mount will forever be my home, and for that I am eternally grateful.