Spring Senior Scholar-Athlete Spotlight: Saidah Rahman
4/9/2020 9:30:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Thirty-three seniors were on Davidson Wildcat rosters as this spring began, and though their 2020 seasons were abbreviated, their contributions to their respective teams, the overall athletics program and college itself make them worthy of recognition. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we will feature members of the class of 2020 as part of the Senior Spring Scholar-Athlete Spotlight.
Name: Saidah Rahman
Sport you competed in: Women's Track & Field
What is your major/minor?: Sociology and Africana Studies
What was your favorite class and why?: My favorite class was Hip Hop and Urban Sociology taught by Dr. Ewoodzie. That class explored the issues that affect urban communities through the lens of hip hop music. It was a unique and insightful way of understanding societal issues.
Where are you completing your studies this semester?: I'm completing them over Zoom at my home in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season?: Watching all the first-years compete in their first college meets made me feel really old, but also happy because I knew the team would be in really good hands. It excites me to think about how good (and big) our team has gotten since I joined.
If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career?: Despite my love for the sport overall, I've had some really tough moments with track. After sustaining injuries my freshman and sophomore years, my confidence began to decline a bit. This mentality stayed with me throughout my junior season, reaching a point where I was unsure if I even wanted to continue with the sport. The summer after my junior year, I grappled with the idea of quitting quite a bit. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Staying with the team was a hard decision at the time, but I knew it was what was best for me. There was no way I was ready to leave a sport I had been doing since seventh grade, leave all the memories to be made with my teammates, and give up on the chance to have a successful senior season. Despite our season getting cut short, I'm glad I stuck with it and overcame the negative feelings I had associated with track.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why?: The trip to Myrtle Beach my sophomore year was really fun. Everyone really came together as a team, especially since we had to cook for ourselves. I started to feel like we were a family during that trip.
What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different?: Davidson students have incredible drive, not only in their sport but also in the classroom. My teammates support me on the track as much as they do in my academic endeavors. I loved being surrounded by people that were just as excited about what they were doing in the classroom as on the track.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you?: My three brothers and I. We've all been living in different places for a while, one in China, one in South Carolina, and one back home in Chapel Hill, so it would be nice for us to finally come together for a meal.
Most memorable college moment outside of competition?: Getting the chance to study abroad in Kumasi, Ghana and take a week-long trip to Belfast, Ireland through Davidson are two experiences I'm immensely grateful for.
Did you have a pre-game/match/meet superstition?: Not really a superstition, but I always ate a bagel with peanut butter and sliced bananas.
What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester?: Perseverance is one of the biggest things track has taught me. Even when facing great obstacles like injuries, not ideal seasons, and rough practices, I've found a way to push through. I believe this attitude will help me stay positive through this situation.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat?: I've had some of my younger teammates tell me that I was part of the reason why they chose Davidson after their recruiting visit. I cannot describe how honored it makes me feel to have been a part of welcoming others into the Wildcat family. I hope that this trend continues for future prospective students and athletes.
Who do you want to thank for their support?: My coach Brian Doyle as well as Jen Straub. I had a lot of ups and downs over the course of four years and they were supportive throughout the entire process, despite my inconsistency in performance sometimes. I never felt judged or looked down upon, only supported. I don't know what else I could have asked for rom a program.
What's next for you?: I plan to take at least one gap year before going back to school to get a Master's degree in Public Policy. So, I'm in the process of looking for jobs now. I have an interview in a couple weeks for one, wish me luck!
Name: Saidah Rahman
Sport you competed in: Women's Track & Field
What is your major/minor?: Sociology and Africana Studies
What was your favorite class and why?: My favorite class was Hip Hop and Urban Sociology taught by Dr. Ewoodzie. That class explored the issues that affect urban communities through the lens of hip hop music. It was a unique and insightful way of understanding societal issues.
Where are you completing your studies this semester?: I'm completing them over Zoom at my home in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season?: Watching all the first-years compete in their first college meets made me feel really old, but also happy because I knew the team would be in really good hands. It excites me to think about how good (and big) our team has gotten since I joined.
If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career?: Despite my love for the sport overall, I've had some really tough moments with track. After sustaining injuries my freshman and sophomore years, my confidence began to decline a bit. This mentality stayed with me throughout my junior season, reaching a point where I was unsure if I even wanted to continue with the sport. The summer after my junior year, I grappled with the idea of quitting quite a bit. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Staying with the team was a hard decision at the time, but I knew it was what was best for me. There was no way I was ready to leave a sport I had been doing since seventh grade, leave all the memories to be made with my teammates, and give up on the chance to have a successful senior season. Despite our season getting cut short, I'm glad I stuck with it and overcame the negative feelings I had associated with track.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why?: The trip to Myrtle Beach my sophomore year was really fun. Everyone really came together as a team, especially since we had to cook for ourselves. I started to feel like we were a family during that trip.
What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different?: Davidson students have incredible drive, not only in their sport but also in the classroom. My teammates support me on the track as much as they do in my academic endeavors. I loved being surrounded by people that were just as excited about what they were doing in the classroom as on the track.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you?: My three brothers and I. We've all been living in different places for a while, one in China, one in South Carolina, and one back home in Chapel Hill, so it would be nice for us to finally come together for a meal.
Most memorable college moment outside of competition?: Getting the chance to study abroad in Kumasi, Ghana and take a week-long trip to Belfast, Ireland through Davidson are two experiences I'm immensely grateful for.
Did you have a pre-game/match/meet superstition?: Not really a superstition, but I always ate a bagel with peanut butter and sliced bananas.
What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester?: Perseverance is one of the biggest things track has taught me. Even when facing great obstacles like injuries, not ideal seasons, and rough practices, I've found a way to push through. I believe this attitude will help me stay positive through this situation.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat?: I've had some of my younger teammates tell me that I was part of the reason why they chose Davidson after their recruiting visit. I cannot describe how honored it makes me feel to have been a part of welcoming others into the Wildcat family. I hope that this trend continues for future prospective students and athletes.
Who do you want to thank for their support?: My coach Brian Doyle as well as Jen Straub. I had a lot of ups and downs over the course of four years and they were supportive throughout the entire process, despite my inconsistency in performance sometimes. I never felt judged or looked down upon, only supported. I don't know what else I could have asked for rom a program.
What's next for you?: I plan to take at least one gap year before going back to school to get a Master's degree in Public Policy. So, I'm in the process of looking for jobs now. I have an interview in a couple weeks for one, wish me luck!
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