Lobo addresses Redbird student-athletes  

[MARCH 25, 2004]  NORMAL -- Addressing a crowd of 525 people usually is not thought of as an easy task, but former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo was certainly up to the challenge. Lobo was the guest speaker at Redbird Arena on Wednesday evening, speaking to Illinois State student-athletes and various members of the community about how to overcome adversity.

Speaking with ease was the name of the game for Lobo, as the former basketball standout incorporated humor into her message. She talked about the importance of following your dreams and "plowing through the roadblocks that get in the way of success."

"There are always things that set you back on the way to victory," said Lobo. "But it is how you learn from such things and improve from them that defines you as a person. I believe it is so important to have a sense of humor to pull you through."

Also included in Lobo’s address was the topic of having great role models who can guide a person to excellence. Lobo touched on how important is has been in her life to find people that she is able to look up to and admire.

"I have had some really great things happen to me because of basketball," Lobo said. "But none of it would have happened had I not had great people in my life who taught me to overcome obstacles and persevere."

Illinois State women’s golfer Katie Laehn was impressed by Lobo’s positive message.

"I thought that the message that she was trying to convey was uplifting," said Laehn. "I know as student-athletes we have all had some sort of adversity that we have had to overcome. It was really an inspiration to hear her story of how she has dealt with problems and has been able to succeed in spite of them."

Fellow student-athlete Micah Kirstein, a Redbird men’s basketball player, echoed the inspiring sentiments of Lobo’s address.

"She had a great story, teaching us how to never give up," Kirstein said. "Rebecca obviously loves the game of basketball and has found ways to overcome adversity to continue playing the sport she enjoys. We are all faced with injuries and other problems as athletes, so it was really great to hear her success story."

[Illinois State University news release]

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