Student-Athlete Experience

Transcript

SBU is serious about NCAA Division Two athletics, but equally serious about the student in student athlete. Mary Rose is a biology major from Frisco, Texas. She came to SBU because she knew she would experience a high level of competition on the basketball court and topnotch academic preparation in the classroom. We’re bouncing to you next Mary Rose, take it away.

– Thanks for the introduction Alex. What’s going on everyone? Basketball is what brought me to SBU because I was looking for a place that allowed me to prepare for medical school while also continuing my athletic career. SBU was the perfect place because I don’t sacrifice academic participation and rigor for athletics. I really love basketball, but medicine has always been my dream. I decided to transfer to SBU after attending another university because I found out how rare it was to find a school that is as passionate at balancing academics and sports as I am. I knew that the coaches here had successfully sent at least two girls to medical school, which is extremely rare. And I think that their efforts represent what Division Two sports should be about. In my experience, I found that Division Two athletes have just as much drive and passion for the sport that they play, but they receive just a little bit more free time during the day than Division One athletes do. Being part of such a close knit team, especially as a team captain, is an invaluable life experience that has taught me accountability and gratitude. The approach that SBU has towards supporting and challenging the student athletes, gave me the tools I needed to get accepted in medical school. And I’ll always be grateful for my time here. Athletics, even more than academics, has taught me that taking ownership of the opportunities that you have, instead of letting the opportunity become mature, will allow you to grow more than any other approach to college life. It’s easy as a college athlete to become overwhelmed by such a hectic schedule and start going through the motions, but being intentional about how you use your time will make the most meaningful experience possible. That’s all I have. Back to you, Alex.

– What a great play choosing SBU Mary Rose. SBU has more than 400 student athletes competing in 17 varsity sports. More than half of SBU student athletes receive conference academic awards each year, and SBU won the Great Lakes Valley Conferences, James R. Spalding Overall Sportsmanship Award in 2021. Thanks again, Mary Rose.