Meet Student-Athlete Renee Drummond!
Renee Drummond
Hometown: Queens, NY
School: MLK High School, Rising Senior
Program: Girls Basketball
3rd Year at SC
What do you like most about SportsChallenge?
It’s a more positive environment than where we come from. Everyone has no problem always encouraging each other--it is uplifting and allows the student-athletes to be the best they can be.
How would you describe the SportsChallenge culture?
The culture here is a very open-minded one, there are so many different cultures here, you have no choice but to accept one another, it’s such a diverse environment. Back home, you tend to stick with you cliques more. It’s a whole new level of diversity here, because when you come here everyone is willing to learn about each other. In this environment you mingle with all types of cultures and not only want to learn about them, but interact with them.
How has SportsChallenge pushed you outside of your comfort zone or challenged you to grow and improve?
In the classroom and on the court---the coaches are constantly challenging to you to take risks, and work on your weaknesses, whether it is your left-hand or your shooting, and to be more determined to be the best athlete you can be. And then in the classroom they challenge you and push you outside your comfort zone so that you have to speak out and voice your opinion—whether that means teaching the class at certain parts, being part of presentations, or even leading games.
How would describe the relationships you have made here? (with coaches and peers)
It’s the kind of relationships that will follow you throughout your life. Every time you get a new coach, you will think back to these coaches at SportsChallenge. They make you realize what you really want in a coach and what you don’t want. You make friends for life here---when you do go back home you stay in touch. I think everyone leaves an imprint on one another when we leave here.
What’s an example of a time this past season where you stepped up as a leader?
In basketball I’m the point guard, so they look to me to give the motivational speeches, using SportsChallenge techniques to pick up and motivate my teammates. I utilize the activities we learn here and bring it back to the team. As far as soccer, I have stepped up teaching everyone the “brush off” technique. When the other team scores a goal, you automatically see the body language of your teammates change. I help them by changing their attitude and mindset to be more consistent, which allows them to keep going.
How do you hope to continue to develop yourself this summer?
I hope to bring some of these skills and some of these experiences that I learned, being a veteran, to all my teams back home. I want to at least impact one person, so they can then impact others. Once you touch one person, like the coaches have here at SportsChallenge, that’s how you carry on that message, and allow everyone to improve, each individual can improve in a way that can be extended onto others.
Any Other Thoughts?
I know my first year, when I came here, the moment you step in you see how positive the coaches are. The moment you step out, you realize how negative the environment can be back home. I think what kept bringing me back to SportsChallenge each year, is that I learned new lessons, new skills, and had new experiences that made me want to take it all back home and carry on this legacy.
- ‹ previous
- 118 of 143
- next ›
