Each month the Southern Conference will feature a student-athlete from around the league in a series called the SoCon Spotlight. This will be an opportunity to get acquainted with the student-athlete in a different light. The question and answer session will focus on a student-athlete who contributes away from the field, course, mat or court through community service.
This SoCon Athlete Spotlight focuses on Western Carolina's Kristen Feemster, a senior psychology major from Clover, S.C. Feemster is a forward for the Catamounts' women's basketball team, and when she's not on the court, she and the team are helping campus groups and volunteering at local schools. Feemster is also the team's official blogger. We recently sat down with Feemster to talk about her experiences volunteering with the team as well as being a student-athlete at Western Carolina.
Tell us about yourself.
"I'm a senior here at Western Carolina on the basketball team. I'm a power forward, and I'm from Clover, S.C."
What made you come to Western Carolina to play basketball?
"Originally it was the family atmosphere here. The coaching staff was really welcoming to me. Eventually I ended up dealing with some injuries my senior year and the coaching staff was really behind me on it. They supported me and kept me confident, so I felt like this was a good fit."
You've enjoyed your time on the women's basketball team, but you've also had some community volunteer opportunities. Tell us about those.
"This past Christmas we did some community service at the Student Baptist Union here on campus. We helped them organize the basement into a store where less fortunate families could come in and buy clothes, toys and everything else for their children so their children could have a great Christmas."
You've worked with young people, too. Tell us about that.
"Over the years we've volunteered at elementary schools, held basketball camps and tried to reach out in the community. I've also been a coach with Upward Basketball back home, so that was a great experience.'
What have you learned about yourself through your community projects?
"My career aspirations are to be a child psychologist. I've been working in the family therapy area, so I've actually confirmed that that's where I want to go and that's what I want to do."
How have all of these experiences helped you play on the court?
"It's helped me a lot. It's helped me be patient. It's helped me work on teamwork, being a leader. It's helped me try to understand where other people are coming from, so that I can communicate better on the basketball court."
Well the court is one thing, but how about the classroom. How has it helped you in the classroom?
"It definitely kept me managing my time. When maybe another student might go to sleep, it keeps me determined and persistent in keeping my grades up. I might stay up a little later than usual to make sure that I'm going to make a good grade on the test. It keeps me more determined."
What would you tell a fellow student-athlete who is considering community service?
"I would tell them to let your coach know, because you usually go with your coach and your team. Let your coach know what ideas you know about going around in the area, and just let them know it would be a great opportunity for the entire team to get involved and that the community needs you all to be out there."
You've been nominated as a Lowe's Senior CLASS award winner. What does that mean to you?
"That's a big thing for me. Ever since I came in as a freshman, I've had a goal of doing my best in the classroom. I realize that basketball isn't going to last forever. I always try to have a backup plan and make sure that when I left here I had something to show for it on the education side."
You are a spokesperson for the women's basketball team and also the official blogger. Tell us about that.
"It started freshman year. Denise, our media relations person, told me that she wanted someone to get some insight into what we do day-to-day and what it's like to be a student-athlete. I started writing one and we had fans say they really enjoyed reading them, so it has carried on my entire four years. I enjoy it."
Do you feel like you're getting the word out about Western Carolina basketball? Do you think it has helped in recruiting other student-athletes to this university?
"I think it has helped. More so, I think it has built a strong fan base. They feel a little bit more personal with us when I say it's not all just putting the jersey on and going through warm-ups and playing in games. There's practice, there's hard work, there's preseason, there's homework and there's classes. Even social, relationship things, all of that piles into being a student-athlete. I think it gives some insight to potential student-athletes of how they're going to have to manage their time as well as allow the fans to get a little closer."
You have been a captain this season. What part of that role do you really enjoy?
"I enjoy it because I haven't been a captain every year since I've been here. I enjoy it because I feel like I've done something that other people on the team look at me to do all the time. It gives me a little bit of pride. I like to know that people are looking for me to show the example of how things should be. I love that role."
That's one of many responsibilities that you have. How do you keep a balance in your life?
"To be honest with you, my mom helps me keep a balance. If I feel like I'm getting overwhelmed, I call her. She helps me a lot emotionally. She helps me put things in perspective when things might get a little hectic. She's always constantly reminding me how much I have to manage my time. I really give her a lot of credit over my entire four years of really helping me stay balanced."
What is the best part about being a student-athlete at Western Carolina?
"The best part is being on the team. A lot of students come to a college, and they don't know anybody. They're looking for someone to take them in and show them things. Being on a team, you have that automatic connection with each other. You spend time; you get to know each other. You know someone's always got your back. You know that someone understands what you've been going through. That's the best part about it, being on a team."
What is the best part about being a Southern Conference student-athlete?
"Being in the Southern Conference, I enjoy the teams that we play because it's right around where I grew up. That allows for high school friends and relatives to come to my games. I've played against several student-athletes at Wofford and Furman and I played against them in high school, so it's been good to have an upbringing with them and watch how we've both grown."
2009-10 SoCon Spotlight Featured Student-Athletes
Appalachian State - Sam Ramirez - Basketball (view article and interview)
College of Charleston - Emily Morgan - Soccer (view article and interview)
The Citadel - Lauren Fleming - Track & Field (view article and interview)
Davidson - Bryant Barr - Basketball (view article and interview)
Elon - Steven Kinney - Soccer (view article and interview)
Furman - Jessica Preeg - Tennis (view article and interview)
Georgia Southern - Jake Ware - Baseball (view article and interview)
UNC Greensboro - Emily Akiyama - Softball (view article and interview)
Samford - Patrick Wells - Track & Field (view article and interview)
Chattanooga - Maria Juliana Loza - Golf (view article and interview)
Western Carolina - Kristen Feemster - Basketball (view article and interview)
Wofford - Jordan Ingman - Football (view article and interview)