Senior Mainer runs, raps and reaches out

By: Ellen London

Posted: 10/28/08

Every Thursday morning finds Lane Mahoney '09 in Dana Dining Hall, eating her cereal (without milk) and talking about sex. As a peer educator for Student Health on Campus (SHOC), Mahoney meets with fellow members to plan events, prepare for dorm talks and learn more about health issues that affect college students. "We try to make it relevant for college life, but also avoid getting up there and preach about being healthy," she said.

Mahoney first became involved with SHOC during her sophomore year. She had always been interested in health, and felt that it was especially important to promote a healthy lifestyle while in college, a time when students are especially at risk for developing unhealthy habits.

Mahoney and her fellow SHOC members hold events in dormitories in which they inform students on everything from practicing safe sex to nutrition and mental health. "We know that in general Colby students are aware of their health so we try to bring new information to them so that they can make better or at least more informed choices," she said. Another salient topic she discusses-which is especially relevant during midterm and final exams-is stress, and how students can better manage their schedules to combat its adverse health effects.

Schedule management is a skill to which Mahoney is no stranger. Besides her leadership in SHOC, she is the president of the Student Alumni Association (SAA). Along with fostering relationships between current students and alumni, Mahoney and the SAA are responsible for promoting events on campus, including the annual Colby Alumni Network (CAN) Weekend. "The Alumni Network is something that isn't taken advantage of by most students, and it's a really great resource," she said. "This is something fairly unique to Colby because alumni have a very strong connection with the school and want to make contact with the students." Mahoney spends months helping to plan CAN Weekend, overseeing the schedule of events, such as speed networking and panel discussions, and coordinating with visiting alumni.

As a two-year COOT leader and native Mainer, Mahoney has had the opportunity to share her experiences in the Maine wilderness with two groups of lucky first-years. At the beginning of this semester, she led Katahdin B, a base-camp with a rigorous day-hike of Maine's tallest mountain. "It was definitely challenging," she said of the trip, "in more ways than one. But we all pushed through it and had a great time."

Raised in an active family in Gorham, Maine, Mahoney grew accustomed to spending time outside. She is an avid runner, an interest she picked up from her dad, and cites going for runs with him as one of her favorite things to do. The two compete together in the Beach 2 Beacon road race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine each summer, and with Mahoney's mom and older sister there to cheer them on the race has become a family tradition.

Mahoney is a biology major and chemistry minor who enjoys making panini sandwiches for lunch in Dana-banana peppers included-and playing Apples to Apples with her friends. She has a keen eye for bird-watching, and knows over 200 birds by sight and sound. She also knows-and regularly raps-all of the words to 2Pac's "Changes." Her favorite movie is When Harry Met Sally, and her go-to outfit consists of a comfy cardigan and jeans. After graduation, Mahoney plans to spend time volunteering before going to dental school with the hope of becoming an orthodontist. But for now, she is just focused on getting everything she can out of her senior year, in and out of the classroom.