Scholar Stories: Finn Pursuing Excellence in All Fields
11/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Every Wednesday during the 2016-17 academic year, MGoBlue.com will highlight a different student-athlete and their academic path. These are our Scholar Stories.
When she's running, Erin Finn wants to be the first.
But when given the choice to complete her University of Michigan undergraduate studies early, she decided to take her time. It was one race she was in no hurry to finish.
"I don't feel like I'm missing something as I have in past years," she said. "I'm busy, of course. You always wish you have more time, but I actually feel like I'm doing what I want to be doing with my life right now."
And life is good. Finn is at her best when she isn't stretched too thin. Right now, her priorities are running for the nationally ranked cross country and track and field programs, finishing up her degree (biochemistry), and staying involved with her church.
It should be no surprise that Finn, a daughter of doctors -- her mother, Lori, is in pediatrics and internal medicine, and her father, Jeffrey, in internal medicine -- wants a white coat someday, too.
Her intended specialty changes by the day. First, it was pediatric oncology. More recently, it was pediatric cardiology. Lately, she's been giving more thought to working with athletes, but as a doctor, not an athletic trainer or physical therapist.
"I like a doctor who understands where I'm coming from and works with me to try and get better. I want to be that for someone."
Rather unfortunately, Finn spent a good amount of time at the doctor's office after suffering a foot injury in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympics. The injury forced her to withdraw from the Olympic Trials, putting her dream on a temporary hold for four more years.
Now, fully recovered, Finn is back to her old self. Last weekend, she won her third Big Ten cross country individual title, becoming the third woman in conference history to accomplish that feat. Combining her cross country and track and field accomplishments, she is the owner of nine Big Ten titles and seven All-America citations, and she has now been part of three Big Ten title-winning teams (two in track and field and one in cross country).
Believe it or not, she's just getting started. Finn estimates that female distance runners like her traditionally hit their primes between ages 28-32. If that's true, she could be doing this all the way through the 2024 Olympics, wherever those are.
The most ridiculous part of all of this is that Finn may be a better student than she is an athlete. Putting her prowess into perspective, her lowest exam grade in college is an A-minus (twice). Ask her about her near-perfect grade-point average and she'll be quick to remind you of those two grades.
So what's her secret? Here's some advice:
• ATTENDANCE: "I make sure I'm present in class. Not just there, but present."
• ASK: "I'm not afraid to ask questions. Just ask my coach how many questions I ask. If I don't understand something, I'll ask a question. I may be the only one doing that. I feel bad for the kids who want to get out of there, but I'm making sure I understand something."
• STUDY: "Stay on top of studying. I never, ever cram. I study least during finals. I don't have time to fit in big study sessions. Do a little bit every day. It really helps you understand things."
• SLEEP: "I'd rather study for 15 minutes every day and get a full amount of sleep than stay up all night cramming for an exam."
• CONFIDENCE: "When you believe you're going to do something, you're much more likely to do it."
Finn will begin her graduate studies at the School of Public Health next fall and has two more years of track left, beginning with the upcoming indoor season this January. After all that, she plans on running professionally and attending medical school, but an Olympic berth (or two) could put that on hold.
"I feel like nowhere other than Michigan would that be able to work," she said. "Pursuing excellence in all fields, that's what Michigan is about. I want running to be a part of my story, but I don't want it to end my story. I want medical school to be a part of it, too. That would be the dream."
Erin Finn is going places. We're all just trying to keep up.
Players Mentioned
