Geek of the week: Athena Ryals

The geeks at Mines are as multifaceted as they are intelligent. Some geeks are as stereotypical as it gets, spending all of their time holed up in their rooms, gaming, studying, and hanging out on the internet. Many others, such as sophomore Athena Ryals, manage to balance the nerdy side of life with all sorts of hobbies. In between nerding out, dancing, and cracking jokes with friends, Ryals managed to find time to sit down and allow the Oredigger to interview that elusive species known as a Mines girl.

[Oredigger]: Why did you choose Mining Engineering?

[Ryals]: I like rocks. I like sniffing them. So digging, then sniffing them sounded good.

What’s been your favorite class so far?

Don’t hate me, but NHV was badass.

Are you a geek and why?

Yes, ’cause I’m just weird.

How do you spend your free time?

Swooning over Orson Scott Card’s male protagonists. They’re all so hot!

What are your greatest accomplishments thus far?

I was the last surviving girl in [Humans Vs. Zombies] and I’m friends with Buddy, [the CTLM cat.]

Would you rather have a hoverboard or a flying car?

I’d say a hoverboard, but only if it could hover at about 10 feet.

If you could be dropped into any fictional setting, what would it be and why?

The world of “Ender’s Game,” because Ender’s hot and Bean is hotter.

What’s your favorite thing about Mines?

I love Mines. I can’t pick just one thing.

What’s your best nerd story?

When my dad brought home the space shuttle’s operator manual, I read it cover to cover three times.

If you knew that a deadly meteor shower was imminent, how would you prepare?

I would build an undersea fortress and just really hope [the meteors] didn’t hit near me.

Do you have any plans for the future?

I’m going to move to Australia, be a mining super hero, get married, and have babies.

Do you have any advice for fellow geeks and Mines students?

Just keep swimming!

Do you have a favorite quote?

“There’s only us, there’s only this, forget regret or life is yours to miss.” – Rent

If a war broke out between the majors at Mines, assuming you were already teamed with fellow Mining Engineers, which major would you ally with first and why?

Physicists, because they’re [redacted] everywhere.