Player Diary #5 - Shantee Darrian - Providence College Athletics

Nov. 29, 2006

Who would have ever thought that I would play for a BIG EAST team, competing against future WNBA players and coaches like Geno Auriemma and Vivian Stringer. Those names alone have helped to define women's basketball. The BIG EAST is one of the conferences in NCAA sports, but never in a million years, while playing in high school, would I have thought that I would be competing in such at this level - in this league. Like other conferences, the BIG EAST is a place where people from a variety of backgrounds and geographic areas come together and have "the willingness to work together to make sacrifices to meet one common goal."

I grew up in an inner city where there was little sports recognition; therefore having any opportunity to play in the BIG EAST never crossed my mind. I knew that I would continue to play a sport that I love, however as previously stated, I would have never expected to play for a BIG EAST team like Providence College. Providence has become my home away from home. I use to believe that in order to play in the BIG EAST conference, the ACC or any other great league, you would have to have been a McDonald All-American player at a prestigious school or a Nike camp standout. But what I learned is that success and hard work go a long way, along with effort and dedication. To keep me going everyday, I always think of Franklin D. Roosevelt's quote, "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." I admire this quote because it illustrates how I felt about my basketball future as a junior and senior in high school. I doubted my strength and abilities, which also destroyed my confidence and self-esteem heading toward the future. I eventually started working harder on the court and in the classroom to overcome those mental breakdowns that hindered me from truly believing in myself.

I remember after a game, during basketball shootout, Providence's Assistant Coach A.G. Hall, asked me to take a visit to PC. I could not believe my ears. I held off signing at another school to take a visit to Providence. At that time, they were in the process of hiring a new coach (Coach Seymore) and rebuilding the basketball program. I realized that everything happens for a reason and that it was in God's plan for me to sign at Providence College instead. Presently, I am thankful and blessed for having an opportunity to play for a BIG EAST team, like Providence. I was destined to play here. So far, this school has benefited me both academically and athletically. Meanwhile, as a team, we continue to work hard to become better and we will eventually reach our goals. I appreciate who I am, where I came from, where I am today and the people who have helped me along my way. "IT IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A FRIAR!!!"

Previous Diaries
Nov. 17 - Jessica Clark
Nov. 6 - Kristina Baugh
Oct. 30 - Emily Cournoyer
Oct. 23 - Shauna Snyder

Providence College Athletics

Player Diary #5 - Shantee Darrian

Related Videos