Amanda Ronan, Auburn Media Relations Intern
Haylee Jerkins' love for Auburn initially sparked when she came to her first football game with her father, who was a former Auburn football player. While she feels she needs to give him all the credit for raising her to be an avid Auburn fan, she is eager to make a name for herself. She will always be grateful for her father and his willingness to support her wanting to write her own story during her time at Auburn.
"[My dad's] unrelenting persistence and determination inspires me every single day," Jerkins said. "If I'm stressed out or having a bad day, I just remind myself that, 'Dad did more and had less', and it helps re-center my focus."
Prior to her arrival on the plains, she was won multiple grand and reserve championships. Additionally, Jerkins was rewarded multiple ribbons from the "AA" rated horseshows in her hometown, Wellington, Fla, and Lexington, Ky. Her biggest athletic goal while being at Auburn is to continue winning with her teammates and to always be there for her teammates as a helping hand and someone that they can lean on.
Q: Why Auburn?
A: My dad went to Auburn, so that's what originally got me interested in the school. He brought me up for my first college football game when I was 14, it was Auburn vs. Georgia, and I remember that even without seeing more than the stadium and a small portion of the campus I was already in love. I came back for my official visit four years later and I fell in love with the campus, the people, and the atmosphere all over again. I got really excited to make my own story at Auburn when I met the coaches and the team.
Q: What's the main thing you want to gain from your college experience?
A: I'd love to come out of college with four years of unforgettable memories and friends of a lifetime.
Q: What's your biggest goal athletically while being at Auburn?
A: To continue winning with my team.
Q: What makes Auburn a special place?
A: Definitely the people.
Q: What is your favorite memory with equestrian?
A: My favorite equestrian memory is when I realized that I always want horses to be in my life.
Q: How did you start with equestrian?
A: My parents rode! I don't think I was even a year old when I was first put on a horse. My dad held me and we rode his quarter horse mare, Poco, and when I got a little older, I learned how to ride on her as well.
Q: What's a funny memory you can think of from your equestrian career?
A: This comes from the very beginning of it, but when I first started horse showing as a little little kid, maybe 3 years old, I was in a lead line class. When we got our ribbons, I got really upset that I got a blue one (first place) because my favorite color (at that time) was red (second place). Ironically, now my favorite color is blue.
Q: What makes you unique?
A: I don't know if it makes me unique, but I absolutely refuse to give up at anything I do. I'm a relentless perfectionist.
Q: Do you have any pre-meet rituals?
A: Not particularly. The only thing I can think of is that you'll catch me going over the course/pattern a lot. Even if I already know it forwards and backwards, I'll go over it again and again. I'm not really sure why I do it excessively like that, it's just been a habit of mine ever since I can remember.
Q: If you could hire any actress to play you in a movie who would you hire and why?
A: Probably Jennifer Lawrence because I think she's very relatable as a person.
Q: How do you plan on making an impact on the team as a freshman?
A: My plan is to do everything that I can for the team. My end goal would be that if someone needs something done or they need help, then I'm the first person they think of.
Q: What's your favorite aspect of equestrian?
A: You get this feeling that I can't really explain, but there gets to be a synergy between you and the horse you're riding, and it's the most incredible thing to experience.
Q: Who is your role model and why?
A: My dad is my role model. He walked onto Auburn's football team during his sophomore year, but he had to redshirt that year and played during his junior and senior years. I remember him telling me that during his practices there were guys in white shirts, and then there were guys in orange and navy shirts and that you wanted to be one of those guys in an orange or navy shirt. He would tell me about how hard he worked during his college career. He had his team, his studies, the air force special ops, and he worked about three jobs at a time to support himself so he could do what he wanted to do. Then, one day, he had a navy shirt waiting for him in his locker. His unrelenting persistence and determination inspires me every single day. If I'm stressed out or having a bad day, I just remind myself that "Dad did more and had less" and it helps re-center my focus.
Q: If you could give a message to the Auburn Family, what would it be?
A: Thank you for accepting me with open arms and thank you for your continued support of the equestrian program! I hope everyone will consider coming out to our meets, we always have more fun when everyone is there and your support means the world to us!
Get To Know...Haylee Jerkins
