Change is Not Out of Bounds for Monze
Tim Mead | FOR THE QC
April 23, 2026
Sometimes the most interesting student stories aren’t ones that begin with a clear plan. They’re the ones that start somewhere in the middle, with uncertainty, and evolve from there. Such is the case of Monze Meraz-Lerma.
When she arrived at Whittier College, Meraz-Lerma wasn’t chasing a dream school or following a five-year plan. In fact, she’ll tell you she wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted.
“I didn’t really have many options,” she says. “I had good grades, I had extracurriculars, but I just didn’t apply to many schools. It was more about staying close to home and what was financially realistic.”
The College wasn’t necessarily the destination she had envisioned. It was, however, the opportunity that made sense. A strong financial aid package, paired with a supportive music scholarship, made the decision practical and right.
Music, specifically piano, had been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
“I would play for hours,” she says. “My mom would have to pull me off the piano!”
By high school, Meraz-Lerma had already reached the highest levels of formal piano training, finishing two years ahead of schedule. For many, that would feel like a mission accomplished. For her, it raised a different question: What comes next?
That question followed her into college.
At the College, she started as an English major, influenced in part by her mother, an English professor and the first in her family to attend college. Meraz-Lerma reflected on her mother’s impact in three important areas: discipline, expectation, and a deep respect for education.
“She’s always been on me about working hard,” Monze says. “Even now, she’ll ask what homework I have the moment I get home.”
English made sense. It was something she enjoyed and was good at. But it wasn’t a clear destination.
“I knew I liked it,” she says, “but I didn’t know if it was what I wanted to do.”
So instead of standing still, she kept moving.
In addition to pursuing degrees in Business and Spanish, she worked constantly. Tutoring, working various on-campus jobs, and handling extracirriculars, all while balancing academics and athletics.
“I would go from class to tutoring, then to work, then to practice, then back to tutoring,” she recalls. “It was just constant.”
Her experience as a member of the tennis team added another layer with a difficult initial season. The new environment, higher level of competition, and different personalities created challenges.
“It was a tough experience,” she says. “But it taught me a lot about people.”
During her sophomore campaign, things improved. Relationships grew stronger, a comfort level was attained, and her experience became more enjoyable. But stability didn’t last.
Coaching changes, teammates transferring, and before her junior year, an unexpected health issue arose, shifting everything again.
After undergoing major surgery on her abdomen, she made the difficult decision to step away from tennis shortly before her senior year.
“It came down to my health,” she says. “I was in pain all the time. That forced me to ask, ‘What am I going to do now?’”
The answer wasn’t obvious—but it came quickly. She decided to be the Sports Editor for the Quaker Campus.
This was not a position she would have initially anticipated, but one that made sense given her growing involvement in Poet Athletics through game management. She understood the environment and the people. What she hadn’t done yet was tell their stories.
“I was nervous,” she says. “I had never done anything like it before. But I wanted to do it well.”
A willingness to step into something unfamiliar and commit to it is where growth tends to happen. As Sports Editor for the Quaker Campus, Monze found a new way to stay connected to athletics. Not as a competitor, but as a storyteller.
“I’m not trying to be investigative,” she explains. “I want to highlight what’s worth reading, what’s inspiring.”
Having been part of a team that faced challenges, she understands the importance of how stories are told.
“I’ve been on a team that struggled,” she says. “So, when I see success, or even effort and growth, I want to highlight that.”
Over the course of the year, she produced roughly 20 stories. That meant multiple interviews each week, long hours reviewing material, and consistent deadlines.
“It’s a lot,” she says. “But when I finish a piece, it’s really fulfilling.”
If Meraz-Lerma’s time as a Poet has been defined by uncertainty, one area of consistency has been the support of family. From her mom’s editing assistance with initial drafts, her dad waiting outside for her no matter how late she arrived home, or her brother offering help with even the smallest everyday needs, they have provided support throughout.
Presently, as graduation approaches, she finds herself in a familiar place: the unknown, though, now, there are options: Graduate school in Business Management, or sports journalism. Game management. Each path has its own appeal.
“I know I like sports. I know I like writing. I know I like managing,” she says. “It’s just figuring out how that all comes together.”
That uncertainty could feel overwhelming. But in Meraz-Lerma’s case, it doesn’t.
“It’s a privilege to have options,” she says. “Even if it’s hard to choose.”