UVA senior Sarah Kirkwood is a neuroscience geek who broke three Cavalier volleyball records (for aces, total attempts and total kills) during her tenure at the University. Fair enough. But she was also a finalist for the Rhodes scholarship. C-VILLE inquired about where she plans to rotate during life’s next set.
 Sarah Kirkwood has come to terms with being better known for sports than classwork: "You’re not going to read in the paper that I got an A on an organic chemistry test, but you might read that I had 25 kills the night before." |
C-VILLE: Are you headed to Oxford next year?
Sarah Kirkwood: I didn’t get the Rhodes Scholarship. Only 32 people [from the U.S.] get chosen each year, I believe. I was so honored to make it so far. The people who I was in company of were just so humbling. It was an amazing experience, for sure.
How close did you come?
UVA picks a couple of people to endorse, and then you go back to your region, and I’m from Florida, so my home region [consists of] Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. There were 60 students [who were endorsed] from that region. I was one of 15 out of those 60 who were chosen to have an interview in Birmingham [Alabama]. I had dinner with the [Rhodes Trust] committee members and the next day a more formal interview. They asked me questions about neuroscience, athletics and what I want to do with my life. I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better.
The Rhodes Trust didn’t include women in their selection process until only 30 years ago. How does that make you feel?
I’m abhorred that it took that long to allow women.
Your bio on the UVA volleyball website boasts that you’re "the dumbest smart person" your friends know. Could you elaborate on that a bit?
I’m just really absent-minded. I lose my keys three or four times a day. I come across a little bit ditzy sometimes and people are a little bit shocked to know how well I do in the classroom. The things that are easy for everyone else I find a little bit challenging.
Are you recognized more often than not as a jock or a brain?
You’re not going to read in the paper that I got an A on an organic chemistry test, but you might read that I had 25 kills the night before.
What’s next?
I might do a one-year master’s [at UVA] in commerce, or I might play pro beach volleyball—one of the two. I’d like to get a coach out in Los Angeles and find a partner on the beach.
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