New Paltz athletic communications intern Ava Yurchison caught up with senior Danielle Halikias of the New Paltz women's cross country team for the week three release of the 2015-16 Senior Spotlight series that will have a new senior interviewed every Monday.Q: What brought you to New Paltz?A: "Actually, one of my friends' moms told me that this school had a really good education program. Also, it was close by, and it was very convenient. I really like the atmosphere here. When I came here to formally visit my coach, he showed me everything, and I just fell in love with it."Q: What is a motto you stand by?A: "No excuses. I feel like there is a time and place for everything, and everything can be done if you organize when you're supposed to. It is also a motto for my running a lot. Every time I make an excuse in my head, I always have to be like, 'That's not a good enough reason.' There is no reason to do bad in a race or something like that; you can always build off of it."Q: What is your definition of a leader, and what does it mean to you?A: "Being a leader, to me, is being a really good role model for those the same age or even younger than you. You are there to show what a good runner could be or what a positive outlook on life is, or a positive look on a race that you didn't do well on. It is a lot more complicated than that, but that is the simplest way I can put it."Q: What do you usually eat before a race?A: "As my housemates know, I eat a ton of pasta; before a race, I usually have a whole box. It is just something I have always done, so I have never really changed it."Q: Where do you see yourself after New Paltz?A: "Grad school, spending money on that and living on my own. That is a scary thought."