Spotlight - Metzger

A Junior Music Education major, Lilly Metzger, working at Kent State Recreation and Wellness Services has been a place to develop as a mentor, educator, and leader, while making meaningful connections during her time here. 

Since working in RecWell in 2023, Lilly now has several roles she is a part of, including Aquatics Lifeguard, Golden Splashes Supervisor, and Officer of Marketing for the Student RecWell Council (SRC). Amongst every position, she’s found opportunities to step outside of the world of music and gain hands-on experience that directly supports her future career in education.   

Lilly highlights her favorite parts about working at RecWell to be her involvement with SRC and her interactions with the children she coaches through the Golden Splashes youth swim team. Metzger explains that one of the best parts was getting to know the kids and each of their characters. Being able to see their growth has felt immensely refreshing for her position.  

Lilly notes that her RecWell role has supported her to succeed academically, especially through leadership development – an essential skill in the education field. “It’s given me hands-on experience and taught me how to maintain a poker face,” she jokes, citing the professional composure she’s fostered while overseeing aquatics supervising responsibilities. The skills she’s obtained have translated into her classroom preparation and future teaching aspirations.   

One of the most impactful moments for Lilly was when a student expressed to her how much he loved being on the swim team after having a negative experience with his past program. “It made me feel super proud of the work I’ve done as a coach,” Lilly added. Experiences like these with those she works with remind her why creating a positive, welcoming space matters.  

Outside of the RecWell responsibilities, Lilly exemplifies substantial dedication to music as she’s been recognized this 2025-2026 through multiple music-related scholarships, which she says even exceeded her expectations. Learning to balance her academic and professional life was credited to her RecWell roles, which strengthened her discipline and time management skills.  

Lilly mentions a close colleague of hers, Annie Perrotta, whose positivity and friendly interactions with coworkers have left an impression on her. She wants to carry her genuine demeanor with her as an educator and a leader. According to others, Lilly has also done just that.  

For students considering joining the SRC or RecWell in general, Lilly advises them to “Just go for it”. As she did, she encourages employees to enter the new space with a “why not” mindset because her experience has been incredibly impactful on her time at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.  

Fun fact about Lilly Metzger? Outside of the pool and practice room, Lilly competes in triathlons, completing three during the summer of 2025.