The Rocky Mount Academy Media Office would like to introduce a new addition to the school paper, a column that gives an update on faculty and alumni who have had notable achievements after or prior to their time at RMA. It is our hope that you as a reader will get caught up or informed on the lives of those that have been such an intricate part of the Rocky Mount Academy family.

For our first ever RMA column we have decided to feature a beloved student from the class of 1995, Marc Schmidt. For those of you that do not know, Marc was a foreign exchange student that lived with our very own Mrs. Marilyn Jenkins and her family for his senior year. It is an understatement to say that Marc had a great year at RMA. Not only did he help lead the men’s tennis team as an undefeated number one seed to winning the state championship, but he did the same with the varsity boys’ soccer team, the first state championships that RMA ever won. Following Marc’s senior year he returned back to Germany to play more soccer as that was a huge part of his life prior to even coming to the United States. Marc now gets to put his passion in his works as a sports writer. To find out more, check out our personal interview with Marc Schmidt below.

Q1: How would you describe your time at Rocky Mount Academy?

A1: Well, I really loved my time at RMA. Winning the state championships in soccer and tennis was an amazing experience. Especially since they were the first state titles for RMA overall. But I also enjoyed – no joke – going to School at RMA. Teachers were just so much nicer than in Germany. And Mrs. Dawson (…) made my English perfect. Back in Germany my English actually was the big step into journalism. I did not have to go to university, even though that job in Germany usually requires that. Seriously, I do not remember one situation at RMA that I did not like. Seniors day, prom, it was all awesome.

Q2: What did winning the soccer state championship mean to you?

A2: Winning the State Championship in Charlotte was one of the best experiences ever. We stayed in a wonderful hotel. I remember scoring in the half final from 50 yards or something. Boyd Tharrington was suspended for the half final (semifinal), he stood behind the goal, cheering the whole time, until the ball was in goal. It was crazy. The night before the final nobody was able to sleep. We won! I think 1-0. The party afterwards never stopped. Important to mention: I loved, that we had cheerleaders following us to every game! We don’t have them in Germany.

Q3: What was your soccer career in Germany like?

A3: My soccer career in Germany (4th League) only lasted another three years. I started working when I was 22. Since then, I did not have the chance to keep playing on a high level.

Q4: What does your job as a sports writer include?

A4: I am a Chief Reporter at BILD. It is the biggest newspaper in Europe. We sell 5 Million copies a day. The last 12 years I covered 4 World Cups, 3 Euro Cups, and 3 Olympic Games. Most of the time I follow the German national soccer team, as I did in Brasil this summer.