One of the greatest benefits of playing sports is being a part of something bigger than yourself. No matter the sport, you’re surrounded by teammates from a variety of different backgrounds to achieve a common goal.
While wins, trophies, and championships are vastly important and help cement legacies, it can be argued that a true legacy is the impact you make on others.
When Chantae Embry, Maykayla Jackson, and Kobe Wilson joined the Black Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (BSAAC) at SMU, they wanted to do just that. Outside of their respective sports, they aimed to positively impact the community and educate and spread awareness on topics related to social and racial injustice.
As leaders in their community and campus, they recently attended the 2024 Black Student-Athlete Summit at the University of Southern California to learn about the various ways they can continue to strive to make a difference at SMU within their teams and beyond.
As upperclassmen whose collegiate careers are coming to an end soon, they’re at that critical point of preparing for life after college, something that was a major focus at the Black Student-Athlete Summit.
“I learned that it’s really all about taking that next step to prepare for the life you want after college,” said Jackson. “I remember hearing that companies like to read emails from email addresses with “edu” at the end of them. It shows that we’re college students who are young, ambitious, and willing to work hard. So for me, it was a reminder to use the platform that I have as a student-athlete at SMU and send that email, make that connection, and take any step I can to the life of my dreams after college.”
For Embry, whose primary goal is to play professional basketball after college, the summit was instrumental in giving her the knowledge and preparation to navigate that transition.
“There was a specific session about transitioning from a college to a pro athlete,” said Embry. “They brought in several professional athletes and they shared their experiences about playing overseas and how difficult it can be to play in a foreign country. In college, you’re surrounded by so much support, but at the professional level, that’s really when you have to start depending on yourself, so that helped me immensely as I get closer to making that move to the next level.”
Especially in the current landscape of NIL, Wilson was reminded of the importance of name, brand, and image, not only during his time at college but when he enters the real world as well.
“There was a speaker at the summit who told a great story about her daughter,” said Wilson. “Her daughter was going up for an audition and the director mispronounced her name, so she immediately corrected her. Mind you, she was only three years old at the time. Fifteen years later, the two met up again on a much larger scale and the director remembered her because she so confidently corrected her in how to say her name. That just showed me that there’s real power in your name and who you are, you know? We need to have full control over that and use that to the best of our ability through our college years and beyond.”
Of the many lessons and plethora of knowledge they learned at the summit, leadership skills were at the forefront. As three upperclassmen who pride themselves in being someone their younger teammates can look up to, they were eager to learn more about how they can continue to lead their teams.
“We each had to fill out a questionnaire that let us know what kind of leaders we were,” said Embry. “There were four different types of leaders. I found it to be so profound because once I realized what type of leader I am, I can be a better leader not only for my team, but for the entire campus as a whole.”
Jackson agreed by stating, “Learning how I can communicate with teammates and different personalities became a game changer for me. That’s something I can bring to my team immediately because if I can get to know my teammates on a personal level in and out of the sport, that’s going to help all of us succeed.”
It was the mental health discussion at the summit that stood out to Wilson the most in regard to leadership. Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in our own problems that we forget the person next to us is going through just as much, if not more. This is a lesson Wilson won’t soon forget.
“As guys, especially with football, we carry that stereotype that we’re not supposed to be vulnerable and share our feelings,” said Wilson. “But I never want my teammates to feel ashamed or embarrassed to share anything with me. We’re tough and gritty football players, sure, but first and foremost, we’re human beings and a family.”
Wilson added, “ I explained all this to my teammates after I got back from the summit, and sure enough, just the other day, one of my teammates reached out to me and took to heart everything I said. He told me he’s been in a bit of a spiral and going through a difficult time. For him to be vulnerable and put his trust in me like that, it meant everything in the world to me.”
Strong leadership skills extend to all walks of life, and it’s abundantly clear that the summit has only strengthened these student-athletes’ abilities to be leaders and mentors in their communities for years to come.
Going forward, they want to take everything they learned from the summit and apply a vision for improving the future of Black student-athletes at SMU. As Wilson alludes to, like anything, it starts with showing up.
“Being a DI athlete is a full-time job, we all understand that,” said Wilson. “After a workout, there are many times when I just want to go home and chill. But I’m telling you, being involved with organizations like BSAAC, you come to realize it’s so much bigger than you. Getting to hang around other student-athletes outside of your sport and make an impact in your community is not something to take lightly. We have a platform to inspire young Black kids to grow up and be just like us, so getting involved and making a difference is how we can create a brighter future for those kids.”
Jackson echoed the sentiments of the community aspect by saying, “BSAAC is such a safe space to come together with individuals you likely never would’ve interacted with. Breaking out of my bubble and being a part of this community has been one of the greatest things I’ve been a part of at SMU. I’m so proud of the progress we’ve made and the future of this amazing organization.”
As for Embry, she believes it’s paramount to remind her peers of their self-worth.
“It’s such a cliche, but we’re more than just athletes,” said Embry. “Going to the Black Student-Athlete Summit, there’s so many things you don’t even realize you’re good at or have a passion for until they’re in front of you. Having the opportunities and resources available at SMU is such a blessing, and I want my fellow student-athletes to know they can achieve anything they put their mind to. If you play basketball, soccer, softball, etc., that’s amazing, but never put a limit on yourself because you’re so much more than the sport you play.”
While they continue to advocate for BSAAC and work to provide the best possible student-athlete environment on campus, they encourage others to take part in future Black Student-Athlete Summits in what’s been a life-changing experience.
“There’s only so many of us in BSAAC on campus, so to be surrounded by thousands of members at the summit was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that every BSAAC member should take advantage of,” said Jackson.
“If you’re not going to go, I’ll go for you,” added Wilson. “Because I’ve never been a part of something that’s made such a significant impact in my life in just a few short days.”
Despite their various backgrounds and different sports, these three student-athletes joined BSAAC to create a better tomorrow for a campus and community they hold dear in their hearts.
No matter where life takes them in the coming years, they’ll always be connected by a university, organization, and above all else, a summit that allowed them to network and maximize their college experiences to be the change they wish to see in the world.