Student-Athletes Speak Out
April 02, 2015 02:37 PM | General
Dr. Carolyn Atkins created this course at West Virginia University in order to help student-athletes get more comfortable with speaking in public. In addition, she hopes that these individuals receive just as much praise academically as they do athletically.
“I hope that they gain some confidence in an academic setting. They are used to getting praised in an athletic setting, but sometimes they often receive praise from any academic. This allows them to build some self-confidence and feel good about themselves,” Dr. Atkins stated.
A native of Marshville, North Carolina, Parker VonEgidy is a member of the wrestling team and majors in multidisciplinary studies with minors in nutrition, strength and conditioning and entrepreneurship. He stood at the podium and spoke about the importance of health and nutrition. VonEgidy told the audience to take care of their bodies because it is the only place you have to live.
Hailing from Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Lyn Yuen Choo is a member of the women’s tennis team and majors in pre-pharmacy. As a freshman on campus, Choo discussed the challenges she had to overcome as she adapted not only college life, but a new country. She discussed how change is okay, but putting yourself down is not okay. Choo told the audience to love yourself and to accept who you are as whole before it’s too late.
A native of Morgantown, West Virginia, Jesse Schiffbauer is a former member of the wrestling squad and majors in multidisciplinary studies with minors in geology, biology and psychology. Schiffbauer discussed the aftermaths of poor life choices as a teenager in high school. His overall lesson was not about winning and losing, but about living and learning. He told the audience to think before they act and to not let the difficulties of life defeat you.
Hailing from Alexandria, Virginia, Chania Ray is a member of the women’s basketball team and majors in criminology. She stood at the podium and spoke about the importance of following your heart. She persevered to stick with her dream of playing Division I basketball as well as focusing on academics. In the end she followed her heart, and transferred from Florida State to West Virginia this spring.
A native of Oviedo, Florida, Tyree Owens is a member of the football squad and majors in general studies. Owens had a vision of playing Division I football, and he saw it through. He used his father as motivation, and quickly learned that talent was enough to get him to the Division I level. He stated that good character is key, and that he is his own person.
These five student-athletes spoke out today and told their stories loud and clear. The Student Athletes Speak Out program aims to promote character education in West Virginia middle schools through a variety of topics in hopes to motivate individuals by their personal experiences.
“My expectations are just that they learn the basic mechanics of what’s important verbally and nonverbally. Also, organization is key. That it is something easy and clear, and that people can follow. We try to incorporate personal experiences as well.”
Thursday’s Roster of Speakers (Topic)
Parker VonEgidy, Wrestling (The Only Place You Have to Live)
Lyn Yuen Choo, Tennis (Self-Love)
Jesse Schiffbauer, Wrestling (A Life Lesson)
Chania Ray, Women’s Basketball (Importance of Bad Decisions)
Tyree Owens, Football (No Longer #64)
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