March 1st, 2015 | Uncategorized
I wanted to give a quick shoutout to the Atlantic-10 Conference. As a former Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC) member, I always felt connected to what was going on in regards to my university and the conference that we were in. Still, I never anticipated the support and encouragement from the great people in the Atlantic-10 that I have been consistently receiving.
I can recall meeting Jill Redmond, Assistant Commissioner of the A-10, at the introductory Sport Changes Life banquet in Philadelphia last summer. We chatted about what a great opportunity the coming Victory Scholar experience would be, and I really felt like I would be an ambassador not only for my school, but for my conference as well. Fortunately, we have stayed in touch since last summer, and I was privileged enough to get on one of the monthly A-10 conference calls a couple weeks back.
I had been asked to illustrate my experience as a Victory Scholar to the SAAC representatives and other A-10 staff on the conference call. It felt like a pretty significant task at first, as I was speaking to quite an important group on behalf of Sport Changes Life. There was so much I had to say….so many aspects of my experience that I wanted to get across. So I just spoke.
And the more I spoke about my journey and adventure throughout Limerick, and Ireland, and Europe, I felt an intense sense of belonging to not only Sport Changes Life, but the Atlantic-10 Conference. I genuinely had an intense desire to make sure that the most positive elements of my experience would be understood by those who were listening.
It was through speaking about my time here that I realized the impact that these months abroad and the work that I have been doing here have had on me as an individual. Reflecting and recounting specific moments in time took me back mentally through all of the amazing things that have happened here. And at the end of it all, I can only hope that those listening to my discussion on the call left as convinced as I was that this Victory Scholar experience is truly something unique and surreal.
My friends Henry Archuleta and Jill Redmond from the A-10 even sent forth some nice gifts as a thank you for my time on the call, which was such a nice gesture.
I am lucky to be able to say that I have been involved with three outstanding organizations. The University of Dayton, the Atlantic-10, and Sport Changes Life, and I hope that the connections and relationships that have formed through this journey will only continue to grow. #victory #inspire #sportchangeslife
Victory Scholar: Jonathan Nelson
Sport League: ATLANTIC 10
Present University: University of Limerick
Alma Mater: Dayton University
