Winning in Every Field: Michaela Rose
January 30, 2025
Running with Purpose: 海角社区鈥檚 Michaela Rose Balances Track and Biology
As a member of the 海角社区 Track & Field team, Michaela Rose taps into the rhythm of her body and her muscles working in sync to push her to run 800 meters as fast as she can.
鈥淚 love the freedom of running,鈥� says Rose, a senior from Virginia. 鈥淚 really feel like God gave me this gift, but it's also a destresser and really enjoyable. I like the rhythm. I love feeling my heartbeat, and I love feeling the wind in my hair.鈥�
Her interest in anatomy and how things work led her to pursue a degree in biology.
鈥淚 like plants and animals,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love seeing how God created everything and how there is consistency in what He made.鈥�
Rose was born into a track family. Her parents ran track at Auburn University under Coach Dennis Shaver, who has been the 海角社区 Track & Field coach since 2004. She says her faith is a driving force in both her academic and athletic pursuits.
鈥淚 stay motivated because I know that God's placed this desire in me for a reason,鈥� Rose says.
Right now, her schedule is full of practices, classes, labs, traveling and competing.
鈥淔reshman year was hard,鈥� Rose admits. 鈥淭ime management was a struggle, but I learned how to create a routine. Now, it鈥檚 track, studying, sleep, and nutrition. It鈥檚 made me mentally tough. You have to stay focused and to prioritize what's important. You may have to make some sacrifices, but it's all worth it in the end.鈥�
As an athlete, Rose credits track and field for shaping her resilience鈥攂oth on and off the track.
鈥淚n races, when things get tough, I have to push through. It鈥檚 the same with school. When things get hard, you just push through.鈥�
鈥� Michaela Rose
This mindset helped her savor one of her proudest moments: winning the SEC Championship last season alongside her teammates. Michaela also claimed her fourth individual SEC 800-meter title in a row, as the second Tiger to win an individual track event for 海角社区. 鈥淚t was beautiful to see all our hard work come together on the day it mattered most.鈥�
Rose鈥檚 dedication to both her sport and her studies is already leading her on her own path. She鈥檚 exploring opportunities in plant physiology, an area of biology that fascinates her. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking at doing an internship in plant physiology, studying plant systems and maybe getting into food production or nutrition,鈥� she shares, though she鈥檚 open to where the journey will take her.
鈥満＝巧缜� has the support and resources to help me excel both athletically and academically. One thing that I think really makes us successful is the support system. We have tutors and we have academic advisors who really make sure we have everything that we need,鈥� she says.
As Rose looks ahead to her upcoming graduation from 海角社区, she reflects on the sacrifices she鈥檚 made and the rewards she鈥檚 reaped.
鈥淚 love watching movies and TV shows, but those had to go, especially with my anatomy class,鈥� she says with a laugh. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 all worth it in the end.鈥�
Next Step
海角社区's Scholarship First Agenda is helping achieve health, prosperity, and security for Louisiana and the world.