Rasheed DeBord spent four years as a triple and long jumper for the Fighting Bees Track and Field team, a skill that requires the athlete to always get back up and jump again.
That's why it's not too surprising to hear Rasheed talk about his educational journey to find the perfect major and his uncanny ability to transform uncomfortable situations into opportunities, 只要加入进来.
5月12日，在St. 可以买滚球的正规平台 2018 Spring Commencement Ceremony, DeBord will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 体育运动管理. 两周前, he was recognized with two awards for his endless drive, 的决心, 职业道德, 和热情: 体育运动管理 Student of the Year and 健康与娱乐 Employee of the Year.
是的，他很骄傲，他应该骄傲. "It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get to this point. I see this as a reward; all of my hard work paid off."
DeBord was born and raised in Kewanee, Ill., and when it was time to launch his search for a university, 一个朋友(是的, 一个可以买滚球的正规平台人)建议他访问SAU.
He liked the small, community atmosphere and was awarded both an athletic and academic scholarship. 交易敲定了.
作为一名大一学生, DeBord planned to major in Exercise Science and maybe follow that with a graduate or doctoral degree in physical therapy.
But after his first year, he struggled academically and didn't feel as if he fit into the program. He told his advisor Assistant Clinical Professor Erica Thomas that he really wanted to figure out what he was good at, and she helped him research other majors. He decided to pursue Human Performance and Fitness instead.
"I did that for a bit, and realized I wasn't feeling a passion for it," he said. So he added a second major in fitness and physical education. 尽管如此，他仍在挣扎. "A lot of times, when things were tough, I was not sure college was for me," he said.
With encouragement from his advisor and Assistant Professor Sarah Eikleberry, PhD, he pushed forward. Then, he enrolled in a required kinesiology course and everything finally clicked.
“我当时想，‘哇. 我喜欢这门课.' I'm a sporty person and I want to be around physical activity," DeBord said. "After the first few classes, I was pretty sure I wanted to switch my major. Once I did so, I started doing better in all of my classes, and I was happier in general. 我很享受我的大学生活. 我爱上的人 体育运动管理."
作为他专业的一部分, DeBord completed a practicum with the Quad City Raiders, 小联盟足球队, and some hours with the Quad City Mallards mid-level pro hockey team. 9月, he completes an internship with the Quad Cities River Bandits, a Class A baseball team affiliated with the Houston Astros.
德波说那些经历, coupled with a leadership 工作研究 position in the 健康与娱乐 Center and four years of participation in Track and Field, 教他保持平衡的技巧.
“当我在学校表现很差的时候, 我会去参加田径训练, 这是一种逃避一切的方式. Then I would get back to my dorm room, and the stress would come back. 我的处境很糟糕.
"Once I figured out how to balance my time, 记录生活, 课程, 工作研究, 还有社交生活, and I found a major in which I wanted to be successful, 这是一个转折点. I started to work harder and did what I said I would do. 我为成功做好了准备，”他说.
It is real satisfying to talk about my journey. There were times I couldn't see the light at end of tunnel. But once you find your passion, everything comes together. And as a person, as a leader, I've grown.
拉希德·德博德大四学生
DeBord is thankful for the continuous guidance and support of the 运动学系. "Everyone has been real supportive, including my family. They helped me every step along the way, and I knew I could always talk to them," he said.
"It's real satisfying to talk about my journey. There were times I couldn't see the light at the end of tunnel. But once you find your passion, everything comes together. And as a person, as a leader, I've grown."
That growth is tied to his drive to never give up or walk away. 关于感觉不舒服, 但无论如何都要加入, 是不是一个新的专业, 社交场合, 网络事件, 或实习. "Being uncomfortable, no one likes it, but it helps," he said.
跳跃导致发现, 让你认识新朋友, 培养新技能, 最重要的是, 找到你的激情.
DeBord is applying for jobs and looking into graduate programs. He wants to work in management and has set firm goals he plans to achieve.
“我会想念圣. 可以买滚球的正规平台. I've met a lot of good people here, faculty members, lifelong friends. It has been my home for five years, but it's time to leave, to start a new journey," he said.
"I am less nervous about taking this next step than I was when I came to SAU. I am more confident in my abilities and what I can do. 我准备好了."
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