Reported by Samantha Bredeson
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JTnetAN8ig[/youtube]
“There was a time when doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me. It was my sophomore year in college, I couldn’t hold my arms up for more than 10 seconds without them dropping to my side. I think I was sleeping 18 hours out of the day. So that was the roughest thing I ever had to overcome and I’m still fighting it,” said Elena Delle Donne, WNBA guard/forward for the Chicago Sky.
But Lyme disease didn’t stop Delle Donne from being selected second overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2013 WNBA draft or from capturing every Rookie of the Month award during the 2013 season. The basketball star shared her story of dedication and success with Concordia students last week.
“I finished my college season and I think it was two weeks later I was drafted to the Chicago Sky,” Delle Donne said.
Organized by career services, the workshop provided insight and encouragement to students currently pursuing a career in sports.
“It’s very important to me that you know and you see what success looks like. These people are exactly what it looks like,” said Jerry Pinotti, Concordia University’s Director of Career Services.
Pinotti opened the event and was followed by presentations from Chicago Sky’s Business Development Manager Bryan Van Den Bosch and Head Coach Pokey Chatman.
“The sports industry from an office personnel is not a job, it’s a career,” Van Den Bosch said.
“People ask me all the time about advice. I think it’s tremendously important that you respect the process,” Chatman said.
Rounding out the event, Delle Donne opened the floor to questions from the audience reassured fans that she does not plan on leaving the game any time soon, no matter what challenge she may face.
“I love this game and I’ll play as long as I possibly can,” Delle Donne said.
Click here to see Elena Delle Donne’s full Q&A at Concordia.
