Megan Poe: More Than Just a Game

POCATELLO, Idaho- A life of tennis was always in the cards for Megan Poe.
 
Her parents, Steven and Sunny, met at a small college in Iowa where they played collegiate tennis at the NAIA level. Her two older sisters, Mary and Jamie, also helped set the pace for Poe.
 
"I started picking up a racquet when I was three years old," Poe said. "I was always at the tennis courts watching my older sisters."
 
Mary, her oldest sister, played collegiate tennis at The University of North Texas before becoming a coach. Jamie also took her abilities to the college level, competing at Southern Arkansas University.
 
The three sisters grew up in Denton, Texas. Despite a slight age difference, they spent a lot of their time on the courts together.
 
"I grew up playing tennis with my sisters," Poe continued. "I was always really tenacious and wanted to beat them. We would always be at the parks and I was always super competitive."
 
Poe was even coached by Mary at one point.
 
"My older sister actually coached me for a little bit," Poe said. "That was really fun. I think it was kind of harder because maybe I didn't listen to her as well as I would have another coach but it was definitely really fun."
 
Tennis turned more competitive for Poe her freshman year of high school.
 
"I grew up playing recreationally at parks but I wanted to start playing really competitively," Poe said. "There is this really good tennis academy in Texas at Brookhaven Country Club called Brookhaven Tennis Academy. It is pretty expensive but my sister actually coached there and I got a full scholarship to train there for free which was amazing because I wouldn't have been able to train there. I am very grateful for them."
 
Her dedication paid off her freshman year of high school after Poe and her doubles partner made it to the state tournament.
 
"We were the first ones to make it to state in the high school's history and to this day no one has made it to state," said Poe.
 
In order to give herself more time to practice her craft, Poe switched to a private high school her sophomore year.
 
"I went to school from about eight to 12," Poe said. "From 12 to five I would play tennis for five hours a day and I really loved it."
 
With all her success, Poe had the opportunity to look at multiple Division I schools while deciding on where to further her career. However, for Poe, it was about more than just playing tennis.
 
"The reason I came to Idaho State was predominantly for the nursing program and the tennis program," said Poe. "A lot of colleges I was speaking to that were Division I told me that they wouldn't accept me if I were to do tennis and nursing at the same time just because they understood how time consuming nursing was and that I would be missing a lot of practices."
 
For a while it seemed Poe would not be able to compete in tennis while going through the nursing program. That was until she came across Idaho State.
 
"I came across Idaho State and Gretchen Maloney," Poe said. "When I talked to her she was just so supportive and so I came on an official visit and I loved Gretchen. I loved the community here and I loved the athletics program."
 
After a talk with the nursing program, Poe was sold that Idaho State was where she wanted to be.
 
"I talked to the nursing program themselves and they were really supportive," said Poe. "They said they had student-athletes go through the nursing program before and that they could totally accommodate me."
 
Although going through the nursing program while playing tennis was even more difficult than she imagined, Poe dominated both off and on the court.
 
"It was definitely difficult," Poe explained. "Luckily I had one of my teammates [Madison Fenske] go through the nursing program as well so we kind of went through it together. We would definitely study on all of the trips. We would take exams right after a match. We would try and get a quiz done right before a match. It was difficult but we got through it."
 
On top of her already busy schedule, Poe gathered enough energy to work at the Pocatello Free Clinic.
 
"I actually also worked while doing tennis and nursing school," Poe said. "I worked part time, about 10 to 15 hours a week. It was fun. I worked at the Pocatello Free Clinic where they provide services for people who don't have health insurance or maybe have a lack of access to health care. I loved every second of it."
 
Through life experiences and her time working, Poe found her calling.

"Through that I want to become a family nurse practitioner for low income populations and make sure we take care of the people who can't access healthcare because healthcare is really expensive in the United States. I want to make sure we take care of those vulnerable populations."
 
Poe hopes to eventually open her own free clinic and eventually follow in her father's footsteps.
 
"Eventually down the line I would also like to become a professor kind of to honor my family name and also be a professor like my dad," explained Poe.
 
A lack of access to healthcare is a personal experience Poe has lived through after her family was faced with adversity.
 
"My father passed away when I was nine years old," Poe said. "He was a political science professor at the University of North Texas and through that we had his health insurance plan through the university. When we lost that health insurance my mom didn't have insurance through her work because her work was really small."
 
Poe's mom, Sunny, took out a private health insurance plan for the family.
 
"My health insurance plan was just so bad," Poe continued. "I had it up until this last year and it didn't cover basic prescriptions. It didn't even cover flu vaccinations. I didn't like our health insurance and I think because of that I saw the doctor a lot less than maybe what most people do."
 
The day Poe's father passed away still remains a vivid memory for her.
 
"My dad was a tennis player, too," Poe said. "That day I was at the tennis courts and my mom was there and one of my sisters was there. I had a tennis match and I was playing this 12 year old, cocky little boy and I beat him so I was going to go up to my dad and I was so excited but he was actually playing a tennis match at the time. All of the sudden I was watching him and he was on the ground."
 
Her mom began to perform CPR with her older sister right there on the court with them. 
 
"I was kind of far away because everyone told me to stay in the building but I was watching from far away," said Poe. 
 
Her father would pass away from a heart attack.
 
"Honestly I remember it and I'm just thankful I was there to kind of see the last moments," Poe continued. "I don't really have any post traumatic stress or anything so I'm really thankful for that."
 
Being the youngest of the family, Poe felt it was her responsibility to be strong.
 
"When I was growing up I think I was very strong. It didn't affect me as much as it would have most kids because I had all of my family's support and I had to put up almost a facade for my family. When you're the youngest one I feel like people have to kind of look at you and make sure that they are caring for you and that you're the one who is okay because you're the youngest."
 
Her facade wore off when Poe started her first year of college.
 
"The first year when I came to ISU it was kind of harder," said Poe. "I realized I was apart from my family and I realized how much losing my dad had actually impacted my life. I think that was the first time in my life where I realized it is a big deal and its okay to be sad."
 
Poe looks up to her dad as not only her father, but as an intelligent and thoughtful person.
 
"He was one of the most amazing people I've ever known," Poe said. "He would travel the world and give lectures on basic human rights and peace studies. I think that is really relevant now, actually."
 
From a young age, Poe's parents engrained in her character that everyone should be treated equally.
 
"If someone is struggling financially or emotionally or they are being discriminated against then definitely lend them a hand," Poe encouraged.
 
Needless to say, Poe's mom was a huge, positive influence on her and her sisters.
 
"My mom is an amazing person," Poe said. "She is so strong and she took care of me and my older two sisters. She provided me with everything I could have asked for and more."
 
Sunny is a very dedicated mother, doing whatever it takes to keep her daughters happy.
 
"She would drive me to tennis which was 30 minutes away from our house," Poe continued. "I also played volleyball at the time so she would drive me to volleyball and we would get home at 10 p.m. and she would wake up the next morning at six and do it all again. She is the most amazing woman and I am so grateful for her."
 
Her mom still resides in Texas where she cares for Poe's grandparents. Her grandparents also played a significant role in her life.
 
"I lived with my grandparents since I was in seventh grade," Poe said. "They were just a big part of my life. They were like my second parents."
 
Poe looks back on her tennis career as a shining light in her life.
 
"Playing tennis at ISU was the best decision of my life," Poe exclaimed. "I think it totally just changed my entire life. I know that if I didn't have a scholarship I would have had to start at square one. It would be a lot more difficult."
 
Not only did it give Poe endless opportunities, but it did the same for her sisters.
 
"All of my sisters got full rides so my mom didn't have to worry about paying for us which really made the biggest difference," Poe explained. "I can't even tell you how grateful I am just to have got a scholarship. I think about it everyday. I am only a nurse right now because of tennis."

Poe is currently working at Portneuf Medical Center in the Medical/Surgical Unit and will be helping out as a volunteer assistant coach with the ISU women's tennis program.