UMAC 10-Year Alumni Profile: Theresa Tauer, St. Scholastica
Interview by Jesse Robinson, St. Scholastica Director of Athletics Communication
Story by Sara Quinnell, UMAC Assistant Commissioner
Each Friday throughout 2018-19 as part of the “UMAC 10-Year Celebration”, the conference will highlight the people who have made an impact on the league and make it a special community to be a part of. This feature series focuses on UMAC alumni who have used their Division III experience following the conclusion of their careers.
When Theresa Tauer – a standout on the College of St. Scholastica softball team – neared the end of her four years in Duluth, she knew that she wanted to use her nursing degree to make a difference in the world but she didn’t know exactly how to utilize all that she’d learned. Little did she know that her time as a collegiate athlete and dedicated scholar would blend together in a way that embodied all the Benedictine values of St. Scholastica and lead her toward a career in serving others both at home and abroad.
Prior to her graduation in 2012, the three-time Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) all-conference selection met with her professors and expressed her desire to explore non-profit work and her interest in public health which was spurred by the hands-on exposure she had through the St. Scholastica nursing program.
During her time at St. Scholastica, Tauer spent a month in Tanzania for a class. It opened her eyes to the opportunities that existed to travel and work in the health field. After some work with professors, the Peace Corp emerged as a unique opportunity for Tauer to travel and gain significant experience that would prepare her to work in the public health field upon her return to the United States.
Not knowing immediately what to expect of the Peace Corps, Tauer felt her time as a softball student-athlete prepared her to manage her expectations and work through challenges that could arise in order to find fulfillment and success.
“Going into the Peace Corp, I was like, ‘I can’t expect myself to love it. I can’t expect myself to stay for those two years, it’s not a feasible thing,’” Tauer said. “I learned that because of softball.”
Following a breakout rookie season in 2009 in which she was named All-Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), Tauer said she set the bar too high for her sophomore season and didn’t perform to her own personal expectations. Eventually, Tauer worked hard and battled back to have an outstanding senior season in 2012 when she again earned All-Region recognition and finished as the St. Scholastica program leader for career RBIs (155).
“I learned a lot about just letting things happen,” said Tauer. “You really don’t have that much control over things…you learn not to set those expectations and not being able to reach them. You learn not to set expectations so high or be more realistic or to accept the fact that you might not be able to reach them immediately, and it takes time to reach your goals.”
This mindset is what helped Tauer overcome a whole new world of challenges that came with spending over two years in Kyrgyzstan with the Peace Corp. During that time, Tauer furthered her passion for public health and working with children which eventually led her to her current position as a school nurse with Minneapolis Public Schools.
Following a lengthy application process that spanned over a year-and-a-half, Tauer left for the small country in Central Asia in April 2015. Upon arrival, she spent three months in training where she learned the language, gained technical skills specific to her role and developed a greater understanding of the culture.
After her training was complete, Tauer settled in a small village of approximately 3,500 people outside of the city of Karakol. She was then matched with her “counterpart” – the Peace Corp term for the local she was paired with – a female doctor who served female citizens from their village and six other surrounding villages. Her husband was the men’s doctor in the same role for the community. Tauer’s “counterpart” served as a mentor when began her role as a community health educator.
Tauer and her “counterpart” immediately began working to address the needs of the villages and finding areas Tauer could make an impact. Tauer immersed herself in health education in the local schools. Based on the ages of the children, she would cover topics such as personal and dental hygiene, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health.
It was in this position that Tauer began to discover her desire to continue working with children. Due to the lack of young adults, Tauer said her students were her primary friends while in Kyrgyzstan. Her ability to work with kids equipped her with vital skills to work with students in her job today.
Tauer also formed a strong relationship with her “counterpart” which has aided her in working with teachers and administration in the public school where she currently works. Tauer and her “counterpart” began collaborating early on to create a resource center that would allow them to more efficiently reach a greater number of women through large group settings to address similar health concerns of village residents.
Through a grant, Tauer and her “counterpart” were able to open the resource center and better acoomodate the needs of the women in the community. The center helped pregnant women and new mother learn about nutrition, caring for a new child and different childhood milestones. Tauer also embraced her interest in yoga to start yoga classes for women in the village. The classes started initially with three or four people and grew to over 15 by the time she finished. The classes still remain popular and well-attended today.
While Tauer certainly impacted the community she worked with while in Kyrgyzstan, she said they had a profound impact on her and that what she cherishes most from her experience is the relationships she formed while there, specifically the relationships with her “counterpart” and her family.
“They gave me so much while I was there,” Tauer said. “The most rewarding thing was being able to connect with people in a completely different setting and a completely different culture.”
Despite the language barrier, Tauer also developed strong bonds with her host families. “They really put in an effort getting to know me and trying to help me with my language and to communicate,” she said. “They really wanted to learn English and to actually put forth the effort to really learn English.”
To help her host family learn, Tauer would label objects around the house with the English equivalent to help build their vocabulary. She said being able to spend time developing those relationships during her time abroad has been critical in her role now. “I learned a lot in the Peace Corp about how to integrate into these communities and build relationships,” Tauer said. “Now, I’m doing that in my own school.”
Tauer completed her service in the Peace Corp in September 2017 and immediately began looking for positions in public health. After little success, she started pursuing school nursing jobs. In April, Tauer accepted her position in Minneapolis. “I’m excited about (this job) because it fits with a lot of the areas of work that I like,” said Tauer. “I enjoy working with children, and I really do enjoy helping out the community and being a resource for people.”
Through her experience as a student-athlete, Tauer learned to embrace challenges and take things one at a time in life. At St. Scholastica she embraced the Division III philosophy by discovering her passion for nursing and public health, developing the skills she needed to pursue those passions both on and off the field and dedicating herself beyond her college experience to pursuing meaningful work that aligned with her personal values and those of St. Scholastica.
Without softball, Tauer’s career path may have looked very different. She hopes to continue serving children in a public health setting and further her education through a master’s program at some point in the future. But for now, she’s enjoying every experience she’s afforded, and she encourages other UMAC student-athletes to do the same. “Enjoy your life as it is happening. Take every moment as it comes. Be thankful for what you have.”