Photo by: Cal Poly Athletics
Mechanics Bank Cal Poly Student-Athlete of the Week: Avani Tantry
10/20/2020 9:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
From September through November, student-athletes from each of Cal Poly's fall-season teams will be highlighted through the Mechanics Bank Student-Athlete of the Week series. Representing a variety of majors, each Mustang interviewed about their careers and studies is a member of the Fall Big West Commissioner's Highest Honors list (soccer, cross country, volleyball, tennis and golf), Big Sky All-Academic Team (football), Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete Team (wrestling) or Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Academic Team (swimming and diving).
Avani Tantry, a junior from Bangalore, India, is in her third year on the Cal Poly Women's Swimming & Diving team. As a BioMedical Engineering major, she was a 2020 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Swimming & Diving All-Academic selection this past April. Avani recently took some time to discuss how she balances be a full-time student while also being a Division I student-athlete.
Why did you decide to major in BioMedical Engineering and what do you enjoy most about it?
I've really liked biology right from the beginning of high school and knew since then that I wanted to study something related to that in college. I researched various programs like Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Microbiology and even Pre-med options, but Biomedical Engineering really stood out because I liked its interdisciplinary nature as to how biology can be so meaningful to engineers. I really enjoy the hands-on experience I'm getting through labs and just being able to learn so many new things through this major!
You've proven to successfully balance both academics and athletics at a high level. How do you do it, and what would your advice be to young student-athletes coming into college?
It can definitely be challenging to balance athletics and academics, but it is very rewarding, and I am proud of every student-athlete out there who is working hard every single day. My only advice is that it is really important to stay focused and prioritize the right things at the right time. Cal Poly's 25-35 hours rule is definitely the way to go, but yeah with 20 hours of practice per week, it has to be quality over quantity, which can be achieved by making the most out of class time, lab time and the resources given to student-athletes!
What made you decide to come to Cal Poly and what have you enjoyed most about it in your first couple of years?
I am an international student from India, and pursuing my undergrad in the U.S. has been one of the biggest and best decisions I've taken so far. Continuing swimming at a high level in college was very important for me and the education system in the U.S. is very supportive when it comes to balancing an engineering degree and swimming as compared to India. India has some excellent engineering colleges but none of them had swim programs that I was looking for. The fact that I got a spot on the swim team for an NCAA Division I college was the main reason I came to Cal Poly. I also liked that it is a good engineering college, had great facilities and exposure and what can I say about the location. It makes me so happy thinking about the fact that I'm living in a city that is surrounded by beautiful mountains, so close to the beach and has some of the best sunset views I've ever seen!
What's been your favorite class, and who has been your favorite professor at Cal Poly so far, and why?
I've enjoyed taking many classes here at Cal Poly, not because they were easy, but because I learnt new things and it was fun. Some classes that I really enjoyed were COMS 101 (Public Speaking) because I felt like it really made me a better public speaker and improved my confidence. I also liked IME 156 (Introduction to electronics manufacturing) because even though it was virtual, I had my lab set up at home for this class and had the best hands on lab experience. My favorite professors worth mentioning are Erik Sapper (CHEM 124), Patrick Frisco (COMS 101), Rob Carter (IME 156), Sadie Johann (ENGL 149) among many others because I looked forward to their classes and felt like I was able to connect with them quite well!
What was the biggest adjustment both academically and athletically going from high school to college?
Coming from another country, there were several adjustments for me in terms of academics, athletics, culture, people, food, location, etc.. Academically, I initially found it hard to adjust to the fast-paced quarter system. Having good time management skills really helped me cope up with that. I had to do some major adjustments on the athletic side too. I predominantly practiced and raced in a long course pool back in India and switching to short course yards in college all of a sudden did impact my performance during my first season at Cal Poly. Having to manage my diet and not having good Indian food around was initially difficult too! I did experience a major culture shock here, after having lived in India all my life and getting used to the American culture and being so far away from home has been the biggest adjustment so far.
What are your career goals post college?
I plan on getting a masters degree as soon as I graduate from Cal Poly. I might consider taking a gap year just to give myself some time to decide what I want to specialize in, and hopefully get some work experience as well. I ultimately want to work for a medical device company and hopefully be connected to the sports industry in any career path I choose to take.
Do you have any plans for your Senior Project yet? If not, do you have plans or hopes for any summer internships coming up?
I haven't thought about my senior project yet. Hopefully by the end of this year I have more clarity on what I want to do. I am looking for some internships for this summer and currently working on my applications, so definitely hopeful!
What advice would you give to future student-athletes hoping to succeed in college while playing sports at this high of a level?
My message for them would be: have fun and believe in yourself! It may be challenging and painful at times, but never be hard on yourself. Treat yourself for every small step you take that brings you closer to your goal. Ride High Mustangs!
Avani Tantry, a junior from Bangalore, India, is in her third year on the Cal Poly Women's Swimming & Diving team. As a BioMedical Engineering major, she was a 2020 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Swimming & Diving All-Academic selection this past April. Avani recently took some time to discuss how she balances be a full-time student while also being a Division I student-athlete.
Why did you decide to major in BioMedical Engineering and what do you enjoy most about it?
I've really liked biology right from the beginning of high school and knew since then that I wanted to study something related to that in college. I researched various programs like Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Microbiology and even Pre-med options, but Biomedical Engineering really stood out because I liked its interdisciplinary nature as to how biology can be so meaningful to engineers. I really enjoy the hands-on experience I'm getting through labs and just being able to learn so many new things through this major!
You've proven to successfully balance both academics and athletics at a high level. How do you do it, and what would your advice be to young student-athletes coming into college?
It can definitely be challenging to balance athletics and academics, but it is very rewarding, and I am proud of every student-athlete out there who is working hard every single day. My only advice is that it is really important to stay focused and prioritize the right things at the right time. Cal Poly's 25-35 hours rule is definitely the way to go, but yeah with 20 hours of practice per week, it has to be quality over quantity, which can be achieved by making the most out of class time, lab time and the resources given to student-athletes!
What made you decide to come to Cal Poly and what have you enjoyed most about it in your first couple of years?
I am an international student from India, and pursuing my undergrad in the U.S. has been one of the biggest and best decisions I've taken so far. Continuing swimming at a high level in college was very important for me and the education system in the U.S. is very supportive when it comes to balancing an engineering degree and swimming as compared to India. India has some excellent engineering colleges but none of them had swim programs that I was looking for. The fact that I got a spot on the swim team for an NCAA Division I college was the main reason I came to Cal Poly. I also liked that it is a good engineering college, had great facilities and exposure and what can I say about the location. It makes me so happy thinking about the fact that I'm living in a city that is surrounded by beautiful mountains, so close to the beach and has some of the best sunset views I've ever seen!
What's been your favorite class, and who has been your favorite professor at Cal Poly so far, and why?
I've enjoyed taking many classes here at Cal Poly, not because they were easy, but because I learnt new things and it was fun. Some classes that I really enjoyed were COMS 101 (Public Speaking) because I felt like it really made me a better public speaker and improved my confidence. I also liked IME 156 (Introduction to electronics manufacturing) because even though it was virtual, I had my lab set up at home for this class and had the best hands on lab experience. My favorite professors worth mentioning are Erik Sapper (CHEM 124), Patrick Frisco (COMS 101), Rob Carter (IME 156), Sadie Johann (ENGL 149) among many others because I looked forward to their classes and felt like I was able to connect with them quite well!
What was the biggest adjustment both academically and athletically going from high school to college?
Coming from another country, there were several adjustments for me in terms of academics, athletics, culture, people, food, location, etc.. Academically, I initially found it hard to adjust to the fast-paced quarter system. Having good time management skills really helped me cope up with that. I had to do some major adjustments on the athletic side too. I predominantly practiced and raced in a long course pool back in India and switching to short course yards in college all of a sudden did impact my performance during my first season at Cal Poly. Having to manage my diet and not having good Indian food around was initially difficult too! I did experience a major culture shock here, after having lived in India all my life and getting used to the American culture and being so far away from home has been the biggest adjustment so far.
What are your career goals post college?
I plan on getting a masters degree as soon as I graduate from Cal Poly. I might consider taking a gap year just to give myself some time to decide what I want to specialize in, and hopefully get some work experience as well. I ultimately want to work for a medical device company and hopefully be connected to the sports industry in any career path I choose to take.
Do you have any plans for your Senior Project yet? If not, do you have plans or hopes for any summer internships coming up?
I haven't thought about my senior project yet. Hopefully by the end of this year I have more clarity on what I want to do. I am looking for some internships for this summer and currently working on my applications, so definitely hopeful!
What advice would you give to future student-athletes hoping to succeed in college while playing sports at this high of a level?
My message for them would be: have fun and believe in yourself! It may be challenging and painful at times, but never be hard on yourself. Treat yourself for every small step you take that brings you closer to your goal. Ride High Mustangs!
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