Elizabeth House is Notre Dame’s best-kept secret, and it’s not just because of her swimming. She’s a super-student – balancing a varsity sport, a business major, and a serious Netflix addiction. As one of the hardest-working people I know, she never fails to impress me, and I am lucky enough to have roomed with her for the last year and a half. She’s so busy that we are usually only in the room together when we’re in bed, but she’s pretty chatty in her sleep so we get to talk then. This week, I had the chance to interview her when she was conscious, and I learned some new things about her.
Dorm: PDub
Major: Business (undecided)
Hometown: Louisville (Loo-a-vul), Kentucky
Favorite place on campus: My bed
Go-to Pandora Playlist: 2000’s hip-hop
Favorite snack: Cottage cheese
Fun Facts
– Spends hours in water every day and doesn’t prune
– Can squat three small children
– Survived the Louisville “Purge”
– Used to have a goldfish named Goldy
How did you get involved in swimming?
I swam summer league and then one thing led to another and I ended up on a year round team. I played a bunch of other sports when I was younger (lacrosse, field hockey, ran track/cross country), but I ultimately chose swimming because there is nothing better than a swimmer’s appetite. I can eat…like a lot.
What’s your favorite memory at Notre Dame?
When the dining halls got the same hot chocolate machine as Waddick’s. I looked into buying one for my dorm room, but it’s over $1,000. I’m dedicated to delicious hot chocolate, but not that dedicated.
Describe a day in the life of a swimmer at the greatest university in the world.
My day essentially is like one of those t-shirts that say, “eat, sleep, swim,” but with class, studying and Netflix mixed in.
Are there any perks at all to having to wake up so early for practice?
I get lots of worms. (Early bird gets the worm, ya know?)
What is your favorite thing about the Notre Dame swim team?
Being surrounded by the funniest people in the world. My teammates make practice bearable, plus nobody can quote Blades of Glory better than they can.
What’s the secret to your determination and work ethic?
The secret to my motivation and work ethic are the Rocky movies, more specifically, the training montage in Rocky 4 when Rocky is training to beat the Russian guy. Sometimes I think I could lift a car after watching those cause I get so pumped up and then I think, mmm better not…
If you weren’t a swimmer, what sport would you want to play?
Probably field hockey. It was a lot of fun in middle school… most of the time I just stood in front of the goal and waited for someone to pass to me. I was the jerk who would get all the credit for the goal, but didn’t actually do any work. I think that could be fun to do again.
If you could choose an actress to play you in the movie version of your life, whom would you choose? Who would play the romantic interest?
Hmm… Rebel Wilson, I like to think that I’m funny. As far as romantic interest, Matthew McConaughey or Bradley Cooper.
If you could choose between having a rewind button or a pause button for your life, which would you choose?
One time my friends and I had a multi-day debate on this, but I’d choose a pause button for sure. Just think of all the naps you could take when everything is paused.
Thanks for the interview, Elizabeth!
XO, HCND
Follow HCND on Twitter, like us on Facebook, Pin with us and show our Instagram some love!
Images provided by interviewee.