Patriot Profile: Midori Galligan

Back in 2023 on the day before she moved into her residence hall at George Mason University, Midori Galligan received a bit of advice from her dad as she embarked on her college journey. “He kind of gave the normal talk of ‘You need to do new things, meet new people, and just say yes.’” 

In her two years on campus, Galligan has taken that guidance to incredible heights. In the process, she’s discovered new passions while pursuing the degree that prompted her to come to George Mason. 

Rowing on a Whim: A former soccer player, Galligan decided to focus on academics when she came to George Mason. But during an activities fair on campus, a George Mason rower encouraged her to try out for the squad. “I was like, you know what? I’m just going to try it. I was looking for things to do, trying to meet new people.”   

Despite having no prior awareness of the sport, Galligan cleared tryouts and embarked on a journey that’s still going strong three years later. “The program takes in a lot of novices, and they will teach you how to row. It ended up being the best decision I feel like I’ve made so far.” 

Keep to the Beat: Galligan is also an active member of Noteworthy, George Mason’s a cappella group. Like with rowing, she joined on a whim. “I decided [to try out] 30 minutes before the audition.” She got in, and by her third year the group named her music director, which had her selecting the music and leading rehearsals. Her favorite song to perform is “Somebody That I Used to Know.” “I have a solo in this one! Plus the group has enjoyed learning this one, and it was our concert finisher, so energy was always high!”  

She’s Got Rhythm: Galligan has found some surprising similarities between her two passions. “Rowing is a very rhythmic sport. In a boat of people, you have to be moving together. Constantly being on a beat has helped me pick up rowing technique.”  

The teamwork and collaboration she has experienced come with their own rewards. “It’s a really cool feeling, having a collective goal, working hard for it, wearing a uniform of the school, and going out and competing or performing. I take a lot of pride in it.” 

Best Laid Plans: While Galligan, who is also an Honors College student, seemingly left the social part of her life as a Patriot to chance, her academic path shows strong intention. “I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist,” she says, “and a big part of preparing for PT school is experience.” She cites the university’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and its rich pool of internship opportunities as major factors in her decision to come to George Mason. “The kinesiology curriculum has set aside credits and time for you to get internships as well. I thought I would be really set up to create a strong PT application.” 

Advice for New Patriots: In her journey of “saying yes,” Galligan says she’s discovered something far more important. “I think the point of going to school and having all the opportunities is just to kind of get out of your comfort zone and see what’s there. You learn something about yourself and what you want…it helps you figure out who you can be.”