We spoke to Honors students traveling to Phoenix, Arizona, to represent TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. Leah Marut ’23 is a flutist in the TCU Marching Band. She is a biology major with creative writing and cultural awareness in health care minors. Leah answered questions about her experience balancing academics in the Honors College with her extracurriculars supporting the Horned Frogs during their record-breaking football season.
How has the Honors College impacted your TCU experience?
I think the unique course offerings have been the best part – they exemplify learning for the sake of learning, rather than checking off boxes for a core curriculum. They draw from relevant real-world principles. Additionally, the people I've met through being in the Honors College have definitely shaped my experience for the better. All of the professors are incredibly knowledgeable and patient mentors who genuinely care about every student. My fellow students are intelligent, compassionate people who challenge and support me.
How do you balance your extracurriculars and academics?
What's worked best for me is writing down everything on my monthly calendar ahead of time and or hanging each class's due date list at my desk so I'm always aware of what's coming up. That way, I can plan ahead for a big studying weekend and know when I have the leeway to relax a bit more. More often than not though, I end up studying late at night anyway.
What has been your favorite game day memory of the season?
As stressful as it was that game-winning field goal at Baylor was just a once-in-a-lifetime game-day experience that I knew would be an immediate video highlight. The whole day was a rollercoaster, from getting up early to get to Waco to enduring the cold and wind, and the despair in the stands was palpable until we got the ball back in the last minute. I remember screaming and jumping with my friend as the clock ran down and our hopes rose. It was just unbelievable to realize that our team pulled that off.
What are you looking forward to at the College Football Playoffs?
Even during the years, our record wasn't this amazing; I still had a blast on game days and cheering in the stands. So honestly, I'm just excited to do the same thing, with the bonus of getting to travel somewhere with my friends and seeing the team have fun on a bigger stage.
What makes you proud to go to the Fiesta Bowl?
Just comparing where we were my freshman year and seeing how far we've come since then makes me so proud of our team, especially Max Duggan. It's unbelievable to think about how much this team has grown and improved over the last four years and honestly, I'm just excited to see them enjoy the CFP because I wholeheartedly believe they deserve this moment.
Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.
We are excited to watch the TCU Horned Frogs take on the Michigan Wolverines at the Fiesta Bowl at 3 p.m. CST Saturday, Dec. 31. Go Frogs!
Learn more about our other Horned Frogs representing Honors at the Fiesta Bowl: