Spotlight: Anna Morrissey
There are some people who do it all, and then there are those who do it with a smile on their face. If you’ve had the chance to meet sophomore Anna Morrissey, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Anna is an accounting major from Boulder, Colorado, who balances her crazy schedule like a boss. Between being a Peer Advisor, Peer Educator, working at the Dean’s Office, and nannying, this girl has a ton on her plate. However you might recognize her as the ambassador for CHAARG, an on campus fitness and health club for girls. We asked Anna a few questions about her position and experience with the organization.
Q: What made you interested in joining CHAARG/ led you to take a position ?
A: “I was a very active member my freshman year - I bought my membership before coming to campus. I knew I wanted to be in CHAARG! I ran track and cross country all through high school and I was eager to find ways to be active in college and CHAARG is a great way to do that. I became close with all of the members on the exec team through attending weekly events and I looked up to Olivia Carter (last year’s president) so much and seeing how much they all loved being on exec and planning events encouraged me to apply. I didn't know what I was getting myself into but I’ve never regretted it.”
Q: What is CHAARG and what is your position/what do you do?
A: “CHAARG stands for Changing Health Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls. We are a health and fitness organization that aims to cultivate a positive and welcoming environment for girls to workout.
I am the ambassador/president of CHAARG. ‘Ambassador’ is the term we use because, similar to how Greek life works, CHAARG has chapters at over 80 universities in the U.S., and I am the ambassador or Santa Clara’s chapter. As ambassador, I send out weekly Sunday newsletters with information, signups, and graphics for our weekly workouts, socials, small groups, and national news. Additionally, I am the liaison between Santa Clara and national CHAARG. I coordinate with a chapter consultant weekly to make sure we are on track as a chapter and she is there to answer any questions I may have. This summer I attended a Leadership Retreat in Chicago with every other CHAARG ambassador to learn the best ways to lead a successful exec team and a dedicated chapter. At the retreat, Santa Clara was given the New Chapter Award for how well CHAARG did during the first year on campus!”
Q: Have you always had an interest and background in a fitness/health lifestyle?
A: “Yes! Growing up I played volleyball and I ran cross-country and track. My family is very active too. We ski and snowshoe in the winter and in the summer we hike and paddle board on Boulder Reservoir!”
Q: What does fitness mean to you?
A: “Fitness, to me, means so much more than how strong, fast, or flexible I am. I am ‘fit’ when I have the mental and physical ability to do everything I want to do. It has taken me a long time to learn this, but fitness is not just physical. I feel my most fit when I am confident, I have energy, I can focus for long periods of time, and I’m fueled with good food.”
Q: What have you learned during your experience as a leader of CHAARG?
A: “Being a leader of an organization where an exec team of six other women and a chapter of over 200 women rely on my confidence and my attitude has taught me so much. First, how to be poised. There are many women that see me as the leader of their organization and it is my responsibility to be composed, confident, and strong. Additionally, how to effectively communicate with others. Exceptional communication is crucial for any team and our exec team’s ability to do so has attributed to the success of our chapter immensely.”
Q: What’s your favorite part about the club?
A: “My favorite part about CHAARG is that it fills a gap in college campuses. So many people come into college worrying about the ‘freshman 15’ or they are no longer playing a sport and want to keep working out in a group or they just want to meet cool, like-minded girls. CHAARG is also a perfect opportunity to be involved in an organization that is not Greek life. CHAARG is not exclusive, anyone can join!”
Q: What’s your favorite type of workout?
A: “Boxing! We went to Rumble and it was a lot of fun and a great workout.”
Q: Tips for prioritizing health/wellness even with a busy college schedule?
A:
“Always make time for YOU. Even if it means writing it in your calendar ‘Me Time’ and never compromise for it.
Start a routine! Know your windows of time when you can go to the gym or go for a run outside and make it a staple in your schedule every week to take that time for yourself.
What you eat translates directly to how you feel. If you have the option to cook your own food, a tip I learned from a podcast (another tip: listen to podcasts) is to aim to incorporate fiber, fat, protein, and greens in each meal.”