Mesmer Eyes wins Go Gold Spring Well-being challenge through determination and teamwork
Winning a gold medal isn’t just for those who competed in the Paris Olympics last summer. Shonda McDaniel and colleagues want to prove they’re gold medalists, too. As the clinical research financial coordinator in the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences department and the reigning team captain of the Go Gold champions, Mesmer Eyes, McDaniel has assembled a dream team and led them on a journey to victory – a victorious well-being journey.
After participating in many WashU well-being challenges over the years, McDaniel set her sights on assembling a team that could bring home the gold. Go Gold was WashU’s employee well-being challenge during summer 2024 that coincided with the 2024 summer Olympics. It was a four-week physical activity challenge that had over 2,600 registered employees; 72% of which were on a team. Together, Washu employees took over 600 million steps through the challenge.
“Alex and I were teammates back in Hematology/Rheumatology, and their go-getter attitude always stood out to me,” McDaniel said, “After I transitioned to the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences department, we stayed connected, each of us driven to find other motivated individuals to join us. During the Go Gold challenge, I reached out to those interested in forming a team, which led me to Tyna Wagner from Neurology and Sydney Faber from Molecular Biology.”
Having come close to winning in previous challenges, McDaniel was determined to go the extra mile this time. She brought the team together to set specific goals and emphasized the importance of celebrating each small success along the way.
We committed to achieving ten thousand steps a day, held each other accountable by logging our points, and celebrated weekly victories. We were each other’s cheerleaders, encouraging one another every step of the way.
Having that support system is the perfect way to hold each other accountable for achieving your goals, and Shonda sets a perfect example of this being true. After years of almost reaching the top, Shonda and her team finally rose to the occasion.
“In a previous challenge, around 2018 or 2019, my team placed third or fourth, and that experience ignited my drive to win,” McDaniel said.
In summer 2024, Mesmer Eyes won big. Balancing her dedication to work, team goals, and family, Shonda wanted to set an active, positive example for her two young boys, and these challenges offered the perfect way to do just that.
When McDaniel learned that Mesmer Eyes had achieved their goal and won the Go Gold challenge, she was excited to share it with her son, Ira. His excitement was also palpable—he danced around the kitchen with her and couldn’t wait to tell his friends about his mom’s success.
Witnessing his pride in me is a memory I’ll cherish forever
Her journey with Mesmer Eyes proves that gold medals aren’t just about crossing the finish line—they’re about the dedication, teamwork, and resilience that make the journey worthwhile.
Learn more about upcoming WashU employee well-being challenges online.
