Everyone has a story: Courtney Varnum BY: ELIZABETH HEFFNER Courtney Varnums college education has been a nine-year

adventure of changed schools, changed majors, love, her daughter Abigail and wrestling in fake blood for charity. The 27-year-old Queens senior began her college career at Appalachian State University in the fall of 2002 as a biology major. I went to a small private high school in Atlanta, so I thought that I wanted a big school [experience], said Varnum. Within Appalachian State University is Watauga Global Community, formerly Watauga College, a two-year program in which students experience general education requirements in interdisciplinary team-taught (multiple professor) core classes that blend fact, fiction, culture, philosophy, motion, art, music, myth, and religion, according to the universitys website. Varnum compared it to having multiple versions of Queens Core classes. Wed study sustainable development, womens studies, English, art, history, math, and science. We were a group of hippie, progressive people, blending it all together, said Varnum. After completing her two years with Watauga Global Community, Varnum returned to the mainstream courses at Appalachian State. Watauga College was a small program. My junior year, I was now in amphitheater style classes with over 400 people, said Varnum. In addition to the drastic change in class size, one of her classes stumped her: Calculus II. She needed it to move on to Inorganic Chemistry, and had already flunked it twice. It was not until Varnum met with her adviser that she realized perhaps a change in her major was in order. Varnum had taken English classes as electives throughout her time at Appalachian State. With her passion for writing, switching to an English literature major made sense. Varnum decided to transfer to Queens in the fall of 2005 as a commuter student. At the time, creative writing was her desired major but was not yet a major within the College of Arts and Sciences. So, Varnum decided upon an English major with a creative writing concentration. Within her first few months on campus, the bright and vivacious student had fallen in love with another Queens student, graduate Jay Pennell. Varnum and Pennell often bumped paths in the morning within Trexler courtyard. Back when there was Greek Row, I would sit outside Trexler [before class] doing crossword puzzles. Every morning, Id watch this guy go to the Pi Kappa Phi house to put up his BMX bike, said Varnum. One day, Varnum decided she would go up and talk to him. He was sitting at a table outside of Jazzmans, slaving over the works of Ann Bradstreet. I came up and asked to sit with him, said Varnum. Within moments, Varnum had him hooked. I told him, Hey, I have wings. My scapula (shoulder blade) bones poke out, said Varnum. His response? Im not gonna get any work done, am I? recalled Varnum. After a month of hot-and-cold interaction, Pennell finally expressed his true affections for her. There was a Phi Mu mixer. He showed up late, and came over and kissed me in public, in front of all of our friends. I remember the strobe lights were shining, said Varnum.

By the fall of 2007, however, Varnum was struck by financial troubles, forcing her to withdraw from Queens. She soon found a job with a real estate agency. I wanted to go back to school, but I needed the money, said Varnum. In July 2008, Varnum brought her daughter Abigail into the world. The day after Abigail was born, Varnum and Pennell got engaged. The couple have yet to set a wedding date. Over the next few years, Varnum balanced motherhood and her job. However, Varnum was still adamant about returning to Queens. I wanted to finish my degree. I knew I had only three semesters left, said Varnum. Her grandfathers deteriorating health was also a driving force in her returning to complete her degree. My grandfather had been diagnosed with Alzheimers, and I wanted him to remember me graduating, said Varnum. Varnum returned to Queens in the fall of 2010. Its a logistical nightmare with the papers, exam week, class schedules, and babysitting. But being in school makes me a better mother, said Varnum. As if school and motherhood wasnt enough to keep her busy, Varnum also leads a double life ... as a wrestler. In the fall of 2009, Varnum joined the Gore Gore Luchadores, a female wrestling charity organization. In addition to the wrestling events, the women also work on costume design and persona building workshops. Were a bunch of great women that get together and wrestle in fake blood for charity, said Varnum. As any wrestling fan knows, every wrestler has a signature character. Varnum calls herself Carmen Slam Diego. Her persona is complete with a big, red trench coat. She is still looking for a large, red fedora. According to Varnum, the benefits of participating in Gore Gore Luchadores are endless. Not only does she feel like she is helping others, she finds that wrestling is a great outlet. Its completely absurd and wonderful. What better excuse do you need to splash blood, throw (fake) body parts around and make money for a cause? said Varnum. With Varnums graduation just a month and a half away, she finds herself dealing with mixed emotions. Im excited that Im closing this volume [of my life], but I love school and academics, said Varnum. After this long journey, she looks forward to her grandfather finally seeing her receive her diploma.

Founded in 2009,the Gore Gore Luchadores is a group of women that wrestle once a month in order to raise money for a variety of charities in the Charlotte area. Interested in seeing one of their wrestling matches? The next match will be at The Milestone Club on November 18th at 8pm. They are located at 3400 Tuckaseegee Road in Charlotte