Penn State Class of 1991 alumna and two-time THON dancer Heather Ross went on what she calls a “secret spy mission” while dancing in her first THON in 1989.

Dancing independently for the Association of Residence Halls, Ross danced in THON for the organization during her sophomore year and again during her senior year with her sorority Gamma Phi Beta.

“I think, at the time, it was an opportunity to be a part of something bigger — to make an impact and help families and children,” Ross said. “That was the first time as a teenager that I had that kind of opportunity to be a part of something that was bigger than myself. To be a part of everybody pursuing a common goal.”

For Ross, dancing in the White Building for 48 hours featured strict rules, including never leaving the designated dancing area and inflexible, scheduled bathroom breaks.

“When it was time for the bathroom break, everybody in your group would be escorted to the bathroom,” Ross said.

During the long, sleepless hours of THON Weekend in 1989, Ross needed to take another trip to the bathroom at what she believes was around the 24-hour mark. She immediately became obsessed with trying to figure out how to successfully sneak in and out of the restroom without anyone noticing her absence. Essentially, she made it her mission to hit the water closet without being “caught.”

“I just went on this not only mental but physical journey,” Ross shared. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to get out of here. I have to find a bathroom. I don’t care.’ And because you could get in big-time trouble if you were wandering, I just started thinking and thinking about it.”

Once she left the main floor, Ross began to “take on another life” by acting like a spy on a top-secret mission. During her “mission,” Ross sneakily tip-toed her way from hallway to hallway, trying to navigate her way through unfamiliar rooms.

“I was like, ‘OK, I am like a spy walking through White Building,” Ross said. “I have to be careful. I have to look all around and make sure nobody sees me.’ I had no idea where I was going or where the bathrooms were, so I was totally wandering around White Building super paranoid that somebody was going to catch me and come after me.”

Considering she had no idea what time of day it was, Ross successfully found a bathroom after what felt like years to her. On Ross’ journey back to the floor, she got right back into her spy mentality.

Ultimately, she made it back safe and sound without being caught or getting into any “big-time trouble.” However, her dancing partner and friends were slightly concerned about her well-being.

“I must have been talking to other people about it because my friend [Noelle Richardson], who was also dancing, basically distanced herself from me,” Ross said. “She was worried we would get kicked out, and she was like, ‘Yeah, I stayed away from you for a while.”

Distractions and support aids that got Ross through the weekend, besides her spy mission, were the line dances, the dancer meals, and a mixtape her close friend made for her on a Walkman with all of her favorite songs.

“After I did it the first time, I think I really got a bigger and better picture about it,” Ross said. “And so, I was like, ‘I have to do this again.”

Although her journey left her quite the story to tell, she went into THON Weekend in 1991 with a new perspective. However, it wasn’t necessarily a walk in the park.

“The second year was harder because you kind of know what you’re in for,” Ross said. “You know a little bit what to expect, so it was good and bad from that aspect. Knowing what to expect can sometimes make it mentally more difficult… You know that there are going to be lows, and when you get to one of those places where you’re kind of sleep-deprived or running out of energy or whatever it is, I tried to think of ways that I could get out of that low… If it was going to find a friend, thinking about what the next activity was going to be or just doing something that would sort of get me out of that temporary funk.”

In her senior year in 1991, Ross danced for her sorority Gamma Phi Beta. This time around, Ross found a new motivator to keep her going all weekend long: four square.

“We played four square for hours,” Ross said. “There was like a huge line for it, and when you got out, you went right back to the end of the line and played it again… It was just a nice distraction. It was very competitive and killed a lot of time, and that was a lifesaver.”

On top of that, seeing the families and kids impacted Ross, giving her a constant reminder of why she was dancing in the first place.

“You see the people that it impacts and it just kind of makes it all worthwhile,” Ross said. “Dancing for 48 hours is nothing compared to what these people are going through.”

Given that THON is now 46 hours and takes place in the Bryce Jordan Center, a lot has changed since her two times dancing. Comparing today’s THON to when she danced three decades ago, Ross continues to be inspired by its evolution and growing mission.

“It’s a lot different now,” Ross said. “So different, so much more involved, so much more education, so many more facets of it… It was just fascinating to me to see after so many years how it’s grown.”

Thanks to Ross’ unique experience during her first ever THON as a dancer, she looks back and remembers one of the craziest and best experiences of her life while looking forward to more THON Weekends as an alumna.