BOWIE, Md. —Every week, Bowie State University Department of Athletics will spotlight one student-athlete or administrator in wake of COVID-19 pandemic that forced CIAA to suspend fall competition until the spring of 2021. This week's spotlight will feature Patricia Taylor, the Assistant Athletic Director for Intramurals and Recreation.

Taylor is a huge sports fan and loyal fan of The Washington Football Team, Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics. One of her joyful moments of watching sports came in 2019 when the Mystics defeated the Connecticut Sun in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to win their first championship in franchise history.

"Seeing them win that championship was just amazing," Taylor said. "I was waiting for that day to come that they would win a championship."

Taylor grew up in a family full of sports fanatics and began playing sports at age five. Basketball was by far her favorite sport. She went on to play middle school and high school basketball, where she earned a basketball scholarship to Elizabeth City State University, where she was inducted into its Athletics Hall-of-Fame.

"That felt so amazing," Taylor said. "I felt all my hard work had paid off."

After graduating, she tried her hand at a professional basketball career with the Mystics.

"So, I did try out," Taylor said. "The Mystics had trials, and I went. I made it to the last round but didn't make the team. But it was a great experience; being able to try out with the Mystics and get that opportunity, which I thought was great."

Her next aspiration was to try her hand at coaching women's basketball. She started at Riverdale Baptist, where she was the junior varsity head coach and lead assistant on the varsity staff. Eventually, she left to become the Bowie State University women's basketball assistant coach for three seasons.

Now, as the Assistant Athletic Director for Intramurals and Recreation, her role is to get students involved in different intramural sports whether it's basketball, kickball, dodgeball, volleyball or softball. Taylor also wants students to focus on their fitness and wellness, so they also offer students yoga and spin classes. Fitness and wellness is something Taylor tries to prioritize herself, too.

By avoiding sweets like cakes, Reese cups, and her addiction to a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks. And instead, indulge herself with better options like salads, vegetables, fruits, salmon, fish, and shrimp. She also likes to take walks 3-4 times a week and swim at the university's pool.

What Taylor loves most about her job is when students appear to enjoy the activities.

"I love seeing the students happy and just into it," Taylor said. "They really seem to enjoy it, especially seeing them last semester. Last semester, we had a basketball tournament going on. And we had our championship game and everything set up, and then, bam, COVID came. So it messed that up. But we were right there; two weeks away from our championship."

Unlike many people, Taylor has been "pretty good mentally" while dealing with the current global pandemic. Though she missed weekly church services and her Bowie State colleagues during quarantine, her faith has kept her mental strong through it all. Taylor also grew in a Christian household and had a preacher for a father.

"I read my bible and do a lot of praying," so that's my thing. "That keeps me mentally straight."

Taylor does what many American citizens dream of doing: Work full-time in whatever they are passionate about. For Taylor, that's sports. When it comes to students who have aspirations of working in sports, her advice is simple: Work hard. Dream Big. And go after their passion.

"This is my passion," Taylor said. "I always tell people 'your job shouldn't be work; it should be fun.' You should be excited about going to work. And everything else will fall into place if you work hard and have a great attitude."