Senior Spotlight: Molly McClintic

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Following article appeared in the William & Mary game program on March 19

By Paige Curtis, UVa Media Relations
If there’s one thing that separates senior Molly McClintic from the rest of her team, it’s her status as a native of Charlottesville.

“I’ll get calls all the time asking where certain things are in Charlottesville or where to go to eat,” says McClintic. “I think being a townie has at times defined me. But at the same time, I have found other ways to fit in with people too. You’re not only defined by where you’re from.”

However, the soon-to-be University of Virginia graduate cites the city, and her lessons learned there, as the entity that has poised her to enter the post-graduate world.

A two-time high school All-American, the St. Anne’s-Belfield alumnae had no intentions of attending UVa as an undergraduate student.

“It was almost like a touch of fate that landed me here,” McClintic reveals. “I wouldn’t be at UVa had it not been for lacrosse. But I don’t regret my decision to come here for a second. I have loved every bit of it. Whether it be about playing time or not, I’ve learned so much. That’s definitely why I came to UVa and how I got here.”

Undoubtedly, one of the lessons learned by McClintic is that no matter where she decides to go after Charlottesville, the memories will travel with her.

“I think it’s important to truly recognize the bigger picture,” says McClintic. “There’s so much more to life and living, and the time that we have with each other. It’s not a mindset that only a fourth year should have, but everyone. It’s the experiences that you take away – win or lose. Learn from everything and take a little bit of everything with you.”

Although McClintic finds leaving a little bit intimidating, she is eager and itching to get to somewhere that she doesn’t know a lot about.

“I have all of these big plans right now,” McClintic said. “I need to figure myself out, outside of Charlottesville: a new chapter.”

McClintic’s new chapter could possibly begin a coast away, in California, where she spent last summer working with Fox Sports.

“I loved California,” McClintic says. “The weather is awesome and the culture and the people are so completely different than they are here, which I think is so cool. I’m not shutting down any options, but I think I want to be somewhere on a coast, but close to other things also.”

Regardless of the magnitude in time or distance, McClintic will always look fondly upon her time at UVa.

“It’ll be good to get out and look back,” she said. “It’s hard sometimes because you can’t help but wonder what you’ll remember – especially because of the hard times that we’ve had. But I’ve also made some friendships that will be with me forever, or at least the memories of them will be. And it all came from being recruited to play lacrosse at UVa.”

With the road ahead full of opportunity, one thing stays absolutely certain in McClintic’s mind.

“I love Charlottesville,” she said. “I will never, ever forget my roots.”