|
Wanna
know the secret to student-athlete success? Check
out decathlon scholar Stephen Reh's story.
This Decathlon Athlete's Got Dedication,
Determination, and Drive!
By Feona Sharhran Huff
April 2001
The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- Stephen
Reh possesses all the qualities of a champion
student-athlete. That's because the 22-year-old
senior business major from California State University
- Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, has aced the 3 Ds:
dedication, determination, and drive.
On the academic tip, Stephen
is a Dean's List student, currently maintaining
a 3.93 GPA. His academic stats also qualify him
as a Presidential Scholar. In other words, his
grades, SAT scores, school activities, and community
service participation were so phenomenal while
in high school that he was awarded a full ride
to college. That's right, Stephen is on a four-year
academic scholarship (that means no loans for
him!). And, oh yeah, he's a dynamic athlete, too.
But more about that later...
As vice president of the
Presidential Scholar's organization, Stephen,
along with other scholar members, performs a variety
of heartwarming deeds for the community. For the
past four years, for instance, Stephen has brought
joy and big smiles to the faces of families who
call the Ronald McDonald House their home, by
preparing meals during the Thanksgiving holiday.
And, during the "deck the halls with boughs of
holly" season, he brings gifts and cheer
to families in need.
When he isn't attending
one of his five remaining college courses or serving
the nearby community, Stephen is putting in time
on the track (six days a week for four hours a
day, to be exact). There he practices for future
track meets as a decathlon athlete -- competing
in hurdles, high jump, and pole vault. His best
numbers are 15.3 seconds, 6'6", and 14'4",
respectively. He also gives pep talk and track
pointers to the track team, since he's captain.
His intense training and
"never give up" attitude has helped Stephen to
place in the top 10 of many major and local competitions,
including last year's Big West Conference, where
he finished sixth. Because of the selfless person
that he is, however, Stephen doesn't take full
credit for his victories. In track and field,
he says, everything's a "team effort."
"I stress [to the team]
that you can't always control your individual
performance, but you can control how you support
your teammates."
With such a busy schedule
that begins with weight training at 6 a.m. and
ends with much-needed sleep at midnight, it's
a wonder this 2001 Team Scholar of the Year (an
award from his school's athletic department),
holds it all together.
"I've learned effective
time management to get through the rough times,"
he explains. "It also helps that I use Microsoft
Outlook, an e-mail program that has a calendar
for daily activity reminders, and [that I have]
a very supportive peer group."
Overall, Stephen is proud
of his success at maintaining his student-athlete
status, but always pushes himself to improve.
"It's a rewarding experience
to be challenged both intellectually and physically,"
he says. "It's also important that I work hard
at everything I do so that I have [balance]."
Spoken like a true champion!
|
|
