Above all, persevere

Hello everyone! I was flattered to be asked to write this column for High School Sports - The Magazine, and I want to thank the gang at HSSTM for extending the opportunity. I am actually writing from Spain, where I am finishing my winter season with Ros Casares, in Valencia, but by the time the magazine is in print, I'll be into my first month with my new team in the WNBA - the Indiana Fever! I am eager to play in front of fans in my hometown again. It has been a dream of mine to get to come back to Indiana and play in front of family and friends, and I know that I am truly fortunate. Not many pro athletes have the opportunity to play where they want, and not many have the good fortune to play for first-class organizations willing to talk with one another and explore a trade to benefit one of their players. I feel blessed, and I'm excited about helping the Fever try to take its next step toward the WNBA Finals. Ultimately, if I am offering any advice to current high school athletes, or those that are even younger, the most important advice I can offer is to never get too discouraged. Perseverance is a valuable trait that I have been fortunate to develop, and it has come by learning to direct my focus and all my efforts to the task at hand. It's a challenge to avoid distraction, but it's a key to maintaining your focus, and thus a key in overcoming a loss or any other obstacles that might get in the way of your goals. When I played at Perry Meridian High School, the obvious goal was for my team to reach the state championship. In my junior and senior years, our hopes were shattered by our nemesis and chief rival, Center Grove. They beat us in the regionals two years in a row. Those losses were devastating - but they did serve as motivation. I worked even harder for the next challenge. On a much more personal level, I had to deal with the loss of both of my parents. My father, Ken, and mother, Karen, both lost their lives to cancer within three years of each other - right in the middle of my high school and college career, and right during the time that my Purdue teammates and I won the NCAA title in 1999. My life was a whirlwind of emotion. In a way, the basketball court became my refuge. It was the one place that I knew that I could focus my attention and not allow my personal distractions to take over my emotions. I always had the support of my sister and brothers, but in college, they couldn't be there for me every day. My teammates and coaches at Purdue helped me to continue working through a really hard time. Games and practices were an outlet for me and my emotions. I poured everything into my game and, in a way, it set a tone for my career. When I step onto the floor, I have one singular focus and I've been blessed with the ability to block out so many of the distractions that could otherwise affect me. The point to be made is that no matter the issues or obstacles that get you down - relationships, family trauma, grades or other social distractions - the ability to persevere and keep working can help you achieve success. Maybe your team won't win the state championship, or even get through the sectionals or win semistate, but that doesn't mean that you can't be a success and continue working. Maybe you won't even earn a college scholarship in sports, but that doesn't mean that you don't have a great skill of your own. Find what you are good at, develop that skill, continue to work and persevere, focus your energies and don't ever quit. You have heard the quote by legendary North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano, "Don't give up ... don't ever give up." Probably the most memorable honor I ever received was a national award in his name, the Jimmy V National Comeback Player of the Year Award, which I was presented with my senior year at Purdue. I know that I am totally lucky to have the family and friends and career that I have; and while I know that there are others who have worked just as hard as me, I do know that a lot of what has come to me in life is because I've found a way to overcome a few roadblocks. I could have gotten discouraged. I could have made excuses for a bad game along the way. I could have felt sorry for myself. Thankfully, I didn't. And thankfully, because of that and my fortunate career, someone thought enough of me to share my message with you. Thanks to HSSTM for letting me share my experiences with you. I'll hope to see you at a Fever game this summer!