Yonette Thomas
/
October 3, 2021
I did not allow my zip code of birth to define my possibilities. I also didn’t want to eff up because that was the convenient alternative that many expected…
Episode Abstract
I did not allow my zip code of birth to define my possibilities. I also didn’t want to eff up because that was the convenient alternative that many expected. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my share of disappointments and doubt. However, the competitive remnants from basketball emerge and remind me to suit up and get back on the court of life. Whether you’re from Harlem or the outskirts of Helena, people will try to convince you that you do not belong. When you’re a trailblazer, whether that’s a first-generation college student or a professional overcoming a stifling work environment, you often develop the tenacity to find the answer.
My competitive nature taught me lessons that transcended beyond the basketball court. There is something special that comes from being resilient, it’s called grit. It’s the last push of energy an Olympian has before they cross the finish line, it’s being the minority in a room that really doesn’t want you there – but grit says I’m worthy and I will excel nonetheless. At various points in my career, I have been confronted with disrespect, envy, and made to feel unwelcome. But going the distance from where I came from, there is no quite in me. Although I was dedicated to my work, I also knew that more than a few of my peers were envious of me being in a role that they felt more deserving. I often felt that I was coming from a deficit because I grew up as a late bloomer. I’m very fortunate not to have come from a privileged background, otherwise, I would have missed out on some of life’s best lessons of humility and being in the service of others – especially those that need the most help.
Meet DR. JOHN GRAHAM
John is the Campus Leader at Potsdam University, SUNY Potsdam.Dr. Graham serves as the Officer-in-Charge at the State University of New York at Potsdam. As the campus leader he provides executive leadership at one of the oldest public higher institutions in the United States. SUNY Potsdam is a comprehensive college comprised of 3,300 undergraduates and post-graduate students that study in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education and Professional Studies and the world-renowned Crane School of Music. Dr. Graham has held several leadership positions during his career most recently serving as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor and Student Advocate at SUNY and prior to that, Vice Provost for Student Affairs and University Life. He also held faculty appointments and taught in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
