Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Memphis on October 24, 2025 at 8 p.m.
8 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
at Memphis
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Photo by: JC Ridley
Madison Dyer - Excelling On and Off the Court
1/13/2025 1:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball, Academics
Q: What does being a student-athlete mean to you?
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A: It is a great achievement for me, something that I have dreamed of since I started playing in middle school. It is something that is never boring and is always exciting. It is also a good challenge, having to find a balance with athletics, academics and social life. Finding that balance is very important and is something that you can bring into everyday life. It has shaped my life for the better.
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Q: What are some ways that you deal with the difficulties that you face as a student-athlete?
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A: I lean on my mom. She is a very grounded, honest person and she guides me. If I am stressed about something, I go to her. Jesus is also a very big part of my life. It is hard for me to even think of difficult parts of being a student-athlete because He has been so good to me. When I am stressed or in a chaotic situation, I find so much peace in Him. Knowing where I am and how good I have it keeps me very grounded.
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Q: How did you become a SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) representative for your team?
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A: My freshman year at my old school we had SAAC, and I was not a part of it. I always thought it was interesting, especially with my teammates that were representatives. I always looked up to them and thought they were good representatives. When I got to FAU, we already had two SAAC representatives, but I knew that it was something I wanted to do when they graduated. One of my former teammates nominated me for the role, and I became a representative last spring. I have always thought SAAC was interesting and a great way to connect all the sports together.
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Q: What interests you the most about improving your student-athlete community as a whole?
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A: I would say the involvement. Personally, when I am playing and I see a whole team in the stands, it is a good feeling. I believe that everyone else feels that way as well. Student-athletes supporting student-athletes is a very special thing. I love the friendships it creates as well. We are with our teams all the time, so having a friend you can relate with that is not a part of your team is important.
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Q: How did becoming SAAC President come about and what made you want to take on the role?
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A: Personally, when I feel like I can shoot for the stars, I might as well. So funny story, during my first SAAC meeting we were voting on the next president, vice president, etcetera. How we do it is you stand up and give a short speech on why you think you would be good for the specific role. President came up and no one stood up, so I was like, 'okay, me.' I did not realize the former president was going to run again. So, we both give our speeches and I told everyone why I would be a good fit even though this was my first time at a meeting. He got voted in as President that year, but I still believe I am a good fit, and now I am going to be the future SAAC President! It was good because I could see how he ran everything and get tips from him before I get thrown in there.
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Q: What qualities and lessons have you learned from being a student-athlete?
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A: Learning time management is an important one. Being able to find stillness when you had a bad practice, game, or test and being able to focus on the now and push through is a big lesson I have learned. Team-wise, I love working in a team, so being able to work together, finding common ground, working through disagreements, and working with different types of people is an important lesson. Grit is a great quality of student-athletes. Being able to work when times are hard helps in every aspect of life, especially in our jobs after college.
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Q: To any student-athletes who may be struggling with learning a good balance, or hard times with their sport, what words of advice do you have for them?
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A: Remember the middle schooler and the high schooler who dreamed of playing in college? Think of how much of a blessing it is to be here and how blessed you are to make your way to college. So many people wish they could be in your spot right now. Just think of how you dreamed to be where you are, and your hard times are strengthening you for things in the future.
ÂGallery: (1-13-2025) Madison Dyer 2024
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A: It is a great achievement for me, something that I have dreamed of since I started playing in middle school. It is something that is never boring and is always exciting. It is also a good challenge, having to find a balance with athletics, academics and social life. Finding that balance is very important and is something that you can bring into everyday life. It has shaped my life for the better.
Â
Q: What are some ways that you deal with the difficulties that you face as a student-athlete?
Â
A: I lean on my mom. She is a very grounded, honest person and she guides me. If I am stressed about something, I go to her. Jesus is also a very big part of my life. It is hard for me to even think of difficult parts of being a student-athlete because He has been so good to me. When I am stressed or in a chaotic situation, I find so much peace in Him. Knowing where I am and how good I have it keeps me very grounded.
Â
Q: How did you become a SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) representative for your team?
Â
A: My freshman year at my old school we had SAAC, and I was not a part of it. I always thought it was interesting, especially with my teammates that were representatives. I always looked up to them and thought they were good representatives. When I got to FAU, we already had two SAAC representatives, but I knew that it was something I wanted to do when they graduated. One of my former teammates nominated me for the role, and I became a representative last spring. I have always thought SAAC was interesting and a great way to connect all the sports together.
Â
Q: What interests you the most about improving your student-athlete community as a whole?
Â
A: I would say the involvement. Personally, when I am playing and I see a whole team in the stands, it is a good feeling. I believe that everyone else feels that way as well. Student-athletes supporting student-athletes is a very special thing. I love the friendships it creates as well. We are with our teams all the time, so having a friend you can relate with that is not a part of your team is important.
Â
Q: How did becoming SAAC President come about and what made you want to take on the role?
Â
A: Personally, when I feel like I can shoot for the stars, I might as well. So funny story, during my first SAAC meeting we were voting on the next president, vice president, etcetera. How we do it is you stand up and give a short speech on why you think you would be good for the specific role. President came up and no one stood up, so I was like, 'okay, me.' I did not realize the former president was going to run again. So, we both give our speeches and I told everyone why I would be a good fit even though this was my first time at a meeting. He got voted in as President that year, but I still believe I am a good fit, and now I am going to be the future SAAC President! It was good because I could see how he ran everything and get tips from him before I get thrown in there.
Â
Q: What qualities and lessons have you learned from being a student-athlete?
Â
A: Learning time management is an important one. Being able to find stillness when you had a bad practice, game, or test and being able to focus on the now and push through is a big lesson I have learned. Team-wise, I love working in a team, so being able to work together, finding common ground, working through disagreements, and working with different types of people is an important lesson. Grit is a great quality of student-athletes. Being able to work when times are hard helps in every aspect of life, especially in our jobs after college.
Â
Q: To any student-athletes who may be struggling with learning a good balance, or hard times with their sport, what words of advice do you have for them?
Â
A: Remember the middle schooler and the high schooler who dreamed of playing in college? Think of how much of a blessing it is to be here and how blessed you are to make your way to college. So many people wish they could be in your spot right now. Just think of how you dreamed to be where you are, and your hard times are strengthening you for things in the future.
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Players Mentioned
MB/RS
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