Meet The Mountaineers Interview with Dakota and Sierra Massucco:
- What is your major?
Dakota: Philosophy
Sierra: Peace and Social Justice
2. What are your plans after your graduate?
Dakota: After graduation I plan to alternate doing seasonal work and traveling.
Sierra: I've always dreamed of the Peace Corps. Recently though, my sister has inspired me to give graduate school a serious consideration. Maybe I [will] sentence myself to a few more years of schooling before I go off and see the world and do my best to help its people. Who knows honestly?
- What has been one of the best memories of being a student-athlete at Berea College?
Dakota: One of the things that I will never forget about my experience as a student athlete, is the bus rides to and from away games. This is where the team really comes together and becomes almost like a family.
Sierra: Every time I cleat up, I know I get to play alongside some of my best friends. No matter what, I know I've got an absolutely amazing group of girls around me. I've had the privilege to play alongside Kortney Halliburton and Caroline Heberle [for] a third year now. We always say we would die for each other on the field. Nothing can replace that kind of love and friendship that I have found from being a student-athlete.
- If you did not come to Berea College, what would you be doing right now? (profession, job, etc.)
Dakota: I would be at another college most likely Warren Wilson or Brevard.
Sierra: I guess I would be racking up student loan debt from studying at some other university.
- Between yourself and your sibling… who is the funnier?
Dakota: Sierra is funnier for sure
Sierra: This is actually a weird question; I have never really thought about it. Dakota always makes me laugh, but I think that is more because we have way too many inside jokes/movie quotes, I love him to death, and I can't help but be overwhelmingly happy when I'm around him.
Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi? Mia Hamm or Abby Wambach?
Dakota: Messi
Sierra: I'll forfeit my vote on the men to pick Mia Hamm always, and add in Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz. If you're asking about excellent players, look no further than the USWNT. They are consistently a powerhouse in the global competition, so I wish people would stop acting disappointed in America's international soccer teams just because the men fail to bring home results…
- If there was one word to describe the Massucco siblings (including Jesse) what would it be?
Dakota: Wow, one word is very hard, but probably adventurous
Sierra: Mental.
- If you could have any superpower what would it be?
Dakota: My superpower would be the ability to create anything that I can think of. Like [The] Green Lantern, except without his ring and weird charging restrictions.
Sierra: Probably telekinesis
- What is your favorite movie all-time?
Dakota: Warrior with Tom Hardy
Sierra: My go to forever is Remember the Titans, but you really can't go wrong with any sports movie with an epic training montage or a Robin Williams film.
- What song describes you the best or is the soundtrack to your life?
Dakota: I don't have a soundtrack song but my favorite song is Say It Ain't So by Weezer.
Sierra: Run For Those Hills, Babe by Tom Rosenthal.
- Tell us something about your sibling that most people don't know
Dakota: Sierra used to "hunt" wood bees with me and Jesse down at our old barn, because there were hundreds of them. We would kill them with tennis racquets, keeping score, and Sierra despite now being a vegan and a huge bee advocate used to win our little contests quite often.
Sierra: As handsome as Dakota is now, he used to be the cutest, big red-cheeked kid with long bleach blonde hair. He had such a big smile that his big blue eyes would get smashed shut because he was cheesing so hard.
- What are you most proud of your sibling?
Dakota: I am so proud of Sierra's ability to continue fighting no matter what. She has had more knee surgeries than anyone should ever have to go through yet she still plays her heart out. She never quits and is so inspirational to everyone around her, showing them that you can truly be whatever you set your mind on.
Sierra: Dakota is genuinely the best ever. He is one of the kindest, most selfless people I know. He is insanely dedicated and has a knack for making others feel accepted and welcome. He has the biggest heart in the world and the happiest smile. I am so thankful to have him as a brother and best friend.
- What is your go-to leisure activity?
Dakota: I have a bunch, like rock climbing, skateboarding, hiking, reading, and watching YouTube.
Sierra: Any free few minutes I have I spent in some form or combination of reading, making/eating food I don't need, tending to my mini-dorm room jungle, or laying in the sun.
- If your sibling was a cartoon character, who would it be?
Dakota: Lilo from Lilo and Stich
Sierra: I don't have a character that defines Dakota entirely, but I always associate Calvin and Hobbes with him and Jess [Berea '16]. I think they are each a mixture of both characters, but the intense friendship and constant torment sounds like those two.
- Describe what you love about Berea College and why you chose to come here
Dakota: I decided to come to Berea for multiple reasons, [such as] the free tuition, the fact that I could play sports and get a great education, and how the campus reminded me of the woods surrounding my house back home, and the accepting environment of the school itself.
Sierra: Berea has provided me with so many more opportunities than I would have found anywhere else. I have never found or heard of another school that offers so many study abroad, internships, and career readiness opportunities. The financial benefits Berea offers is definitely one of the main reasons I chose to come here. Not only is my tuition fully covered by Berea, but getting paid for my labor position is a way to have income while gaining work experience. It really is an absolutely amazing place to be.