Oct. 3, 2017
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Macy Reece can multitask with the best of them.
"This semester is pretty crazy with graduate school, volleyball and planning a wedding," says Reece, a senior outside hitter. "It's a lot, but everybody's been so helpful."
After earning her bachelor's degree in finance in three years, Reece began working on her MBA and master's in finance this semester, a two-year program she intends to complete by May of 2019.
"It takes incredible time management," Reece said. "It's a lot of responsibility to juggle. I have to be very disciplined and I have to make sure that my studies and homework is essentially an appointment on my schedule. I make sure I have to do it."
Even when that means saying no to hanging out.
"Sometimes I have to turn down some social things, of course, but that's okay because it's going to pay off in end," she said.
Reece and the Tigers are enjoying success on the court as well, winning three of their first four SEC matches.
"We're having a great season," she said. "It's been so fun. It's good to come here and be able to leave everything at the door and not worry about what tests I have, and come and work hard and have fun with my team."
"Excellent player," said Auburn coach Rick Nold of the 6-foot-2 Reece. "She's so versatile."
Reece displayed her versatility in Auburn's 3-1 win over Ole Miss in the SEC opener.
"Right before the game, I told her she's playing a new position that she hadn't played all year," Nold said. "She played it last year, but one we hadn't practiced, and she's just like, 'Okay, no problem.' Just doesn't get fazed."
Reece's unflappability benefits her athletically and academically while setting an example for teammates, Nold says.
"There are a lot of time demands she has to take care of and she never seems fazed," he said. "To me, it's amazing. For her to be able to get ahead like she did, obviously she's a brilliant kid. That's a great thing for our team to see."
After her wedding next May in Reece's home state of Tennessee, she plans to add another internship, hoping to narrow her career path.
"Luckily, finance is broad so I do have options," she said. "I like the corporate finance world but there's so much in it, so I have to figure that out pretty soon."
Grad school provides additional scheduling changes, Reece says, because of group projects.
"A lot of it is project-based and being able to apply what we learn in the classroom, which I do enjoy because everything is theoretical until you put it into use," said Reece, who credits Dr. Keven Yost, an associate professor in finance, for further motivating her academic journey.
"He has definitely been an inspiration to me, helping me find enjoyment in finance," said Reece, who was recently invited by Dean Dr. Bill Hardgrave to speak at the 50-year celebration for the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. "Macy is certainly a very bright student," said Yost, Synovus Fellow in the College of Business. "What makes her stand out to me, though, is her willingness to go above and beyond. Even when she comprehends the material well, I have known her to freely help other students just to reinforce the material for herself. Plus, she always does it with a smile on her face."
Surrounding oneself with like-minded teammates and coaches, Reece says, creates a culture that encourages success in sports and schoolwork, or in Macy's case, blocks and books.
"The phrase is student-athlete," Reece says, "and student comes first for a reason."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer