Barber Named Female Student-Athlete of the Month, presented by Georgia Army National Guard
2/3/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Student-Athlete Services
Georgia Southern student-athletes honored for work in the classroom
Each month, the Georgia Southern Student-Athlete Services Department hands out its Student-Athlete of the Month, presented by Georgia Army National Guard, which recognizes students who are working just as hard in the classroom as they are on the field of competition. The female winner for the month of January is Tatum Barber of the basketball team. Let's get to know Tatum!
Name: Tatum Barber
What is the best way for you to balance your academic and athletic lifestyle?
Why did you choose Georgia Southern University to further your education?
What are your career aspirations?
When it comes to striving to do your best in the classroom, who is the biggest motivator in your life?
What are your pre game/competition rituals if you have any?
Favorite pre game/competition meal?
Name: Tatum Barber
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Sport: Women's Basketball
Position: Guard
Major: Sports Management
What is the best way for you to balance your academic and athletic lifestyle?
I think the best way I've found to balance both my sport and academics is definitely time management, knowing that the academic side is just as important if not more important than athletics. So just learning how to manage my time over the last couple years has been a big factor, oh and having a planner definitely helps too.
Why did you choose Georgia Southern University to further your education?
I chose Georgia Southern for the small scale, large feel atmosphere and it definitely lives up to that for sure. I love the campus and the people, it really makes me feel like I'm at home even 1,000 miles away. But I also wasn't super sure what exactly I wanted to do coming into college and Georgia Southern had more than enough options and has access to a lot of people that I knew could help me figure out what I wanted to do and get me there.
What are your career aspirations?
I definitely want to do something in sports, not super picky. Hopefully something around the media side of sports or sports marketing.
When it comes to striving to do your best in the classroom, who is the biggest motivator in your life?
Definitely my biggest motivators are my family. My parents and my older brother because I want to make them proud on and off the court, I mean graduation ultimately is the goal so I know my academic success is a big thing for them along with my success on the court. And my little sister is a big motivator because I know she looks up to me and I want her to know that you can do anything you set your mind too and that no matter how many people may tell you that you can't do something, as long as you believe that you can absolutely anything is possible. That no dream is too big.
What are your pre game/competition rituals if you have any?
I definitely try to get in a pregame nap when I can. I always pray in the locker room before my games and thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to be in this position and to get my mind right. and I always listen to music to get myself focused.
Favorite pre game/competition meal?
Hmmmm I don't know if I could just pick one I love a lot of food ... butttt olive garden never fails me and a good smoothie or some fruit is always a good snack right before too.
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