Spring Break
Editorial: A triumph through adversity
Editorial Board
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Ed-Op
Typically, we don't like to point out the accomplishments of individual students in this space, but Nicole Hester is not a typical individual.
Playing forward on the Drexel women's basketball team, Hester has become a beacon of inspiration not just on campus, but also all over the country. Her face is on the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer and USA Today and ESPN.
Why? One year ago, the junior majoring in sport management was sitting out of the 2006-2007 women's basketball season because she was at home in Waldorf, Md., being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Today, Hester is known as the catalyst that helped inspire the Dragons to an 18-12 record, and also a record-setting 13-5 conference mark for the most conference wins in program history.
Hester's coaches and teammates all pointed to her comeback from cancer as a main spark in the Dragon's successful season.
"As soon as she started feeling good and getting back to herself conditioning-wise, that's exactly when we started winning some games," Drexel head coach Denise Dillon said to USA Today.
We can all look at Hester as a real-life role model. It's easy to give up in the face of adversity, but Hester, who had trouble climbing a set of stairs while undergoing chemotherapy, set herself the goal of regaining her strength and playing basketball again.
"My motto is never to look at the negative. Always think positive. There's always an upside to every downside," Hester told USA Today.
People always say that there are no celebrities that come from Drexel, and we don't receive enough accolades for our efforts - here is someone right in front of our own eyes with an inspirational story, someone who makes Dragon pride a reality.
Perhaps we should look closer into our own Drexel community for inspiration; we should stop looking at our "ugly" campus, stop making snide remarks as to how we go day-to-day in "Kill-adelphia," and start looking more centrally into our own student body.
The power of positive thinking shouldn't be underestimated, and Hester is proof of that.
While many of our problems may be smaller, such as the struggle for a good grade or the search for a co-op job, we should approach life with the same inspirational motivation as Hester.
"I've learned not to sweat the small stuff," Hester said.
Playing forward on the Drexel women's basketball team, Hester has become a beacon of inspiration not just on campus, but also all over the country. Her face is on the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer and USA Today and ESPN.
Why? One year ago, the junior majoring in sport management was sitting out of the 2006-2007 women's basketball season because she was at home in Waldorf, Md., being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Today, Hester is known as the catalyst that helped inspire the Dragons to an 18-12 record, and also a record-setting 13-5 conference mark for the most conference wins in program history.
Hester's coaches and teammates all pointed to her comeback from cancer as a main spark in the Dragon's successful season.
"As soon as she started feeling good and getting back to herself conditioning-wise, that's exactly when we started winning some games," Drexel head coach Denise Dillon said to USA Today.
We can all look at Hester as a real-life role model. It's easy to give up in the face of adversity, but Hester, who had trouble climbing a set of stairs while undergoing chemotherapy, set herself the goal of regaining her strength and playing basketball again.
"My motto is never to look at the negative. Always think positive. There's always an upside to every downside," Hester told USA Today.
People always say that there are no celebrities that come from Drexel, and we don't receive enough accolades for our efforts - here is someone right in front of our own eyes with an inspirational story, someone who makes Dragon pride a reality.
Perhaps we should look closer into our own Drexel community for inspiration; we should stop looking at our "ugly" campus, stop making snide remarks as to how we go day-to-day in "Kill-adelphia," and start looking more centrally into our own student body.
The power of positive thinking shouldn't be underestimated, and Hester is proof of that.
While many of our problems may be smaller, such as the struggle for a good grade or the search for a co-op job, we should approach life with the same inspirational motivation as Hester.
"I've learned not to sweat the small stuff," Hester said.
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