Mountaineer fans who regularly attend WVU baseball and women's basketball games may be familiar with Erin Slinde, whose face frequently shows up on the video board during in-game entertainment.
 
That's in line with what she wants to do professionally as a broadcast journalism major in WVU's Reed College of Media.
 
But Erin is also a very talented senior right-side hitter for the Mountaineer volleyball team as well. The Rosemont, Minnesota, resident says she loves volleyball because it truly is a team sport.
 
"To win a game you need a good pass, you need a good set, you need good blockers and servers," she says.
 
"I came to WVU because it really had everything I was looking for. I wanted to be a student-athlete but also have a really, really great college experience and I feel like WVU gave me that opportunity," she adds.
 
Slinde says journalism has afforded her the opportunity to really expand her horizons.
 
"I feel like throughout the process there were so many people who saw my potential and they told me, 'Whatever you want to do you can do it' which I think helped me work a little harder because I didn't just want to be another girl who was just a broadcaster," she explains. "I knew I was going to have to put in the hard work to be the best, so I think that really pushed me to prove myself and I think my professors really saw that potential in me and that was encouraging."
 
What Slinde loves most about her experiences at West Virginia University is it has enabled her to grow so much personally and professionally.
 
"Just being able to represent the University in such a great way whenever I can to help give back to such a great state and a great community that supports me so much as a student athlete," she says.
 
This week's Life as a Mountaineer was produced by Chris Ostien and is presented by WVU Medicine.