December 2007 Student-Athletes of the Month

*The Student-Athletes of the Month are selected on the basis of the all-around student-athlete...effort and excellence in academics, leadership, integrity, dedication to team, campus involvement, community service, and the ability to serve as role models for current and future VU students and student-athletes.

December 2007

Chavon Rhabb - Women's Track and Field

Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?

I chose Vanderbilt because of the people. It is very rare that you will find a school full of very bright students who know how to relax and have fun. As the school motto suggests, I “work hard and play hard”. I feel you need to have a balance. In addition to the people, I liked being reassured that whatever I chose to do with my life, Vanderbilt could provide me with the resources to get there.

What are your career goals?
As a free spirit, I want to travel and be able to make use of my creativity and talent for analytical thought. I have aspirations of first becoming an entrepreneur and lawyer. Once I have enough finances, I will go back to school to become a part-time doctor. All the while, I will pursue my passion of music and continue to perform and sing with my sisters.

What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
Discipline. Vanderbilt hand-selects those students, given their background and preparation, that it knows will excel. If you think about it, high school is much more rigorous with the extracurricular activities and two or three more classes. So the work is doable. It is a matter of pacing oneself, setting up a schedule, and following it. You have to be able to say no to things you know will hinder you from achieving this goal.

How do you manage your demanding schedule?
I am the worst when it comes to time management, but it is an absolute must. I’ve learned that you have to sit down and work out a schedule, adhere to it, and soon it will become routine. This is the only way to insure that the important things get done.

What is your ritual before taking a test?
I focus in class and try to understand the concepts as they are being taught. Then I use homework to grasp the concepts more in depth. This way, I am not stressing about the test as it nears. After much review, I will ask my professor or tutor about what I did not understand as well as what I should focus on.

What is your favorite quote?
“Dream like you’ll live forever and live like you’ll die someday.” - James Dean

Why Chavon is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
Chavon Rhabb is a young lady who has truly persevered since becoming a student at Vanderbilt. Her freshman year required her to work much harder than she had ever worked in the classroom and also taught her how to face challenges academically and stand strong. Now in her sophomore year, she feels so much more prepared when difficult situations present themselves academically and has done a great job in conquering that adversity. She works hard and does an excellent job with her time management and that has served to make her a much better student overall. Chavon is truly deserving of this honor. --Max Martin

Rob Whiting - Men's Cross Country

Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?

I chose Vanderbilt because it offered an opportunity to study at a prestigious university while also competing at the Division I level. I strongly considered Emory and Rice, but Emory is Division III and Rice is in Houston (sorry Adam Banks). Vanderbilt has the athletics I was looking for and a beautiful campus set in a great city--it was an easy choice.

What are your career goals?
I know I want to use my Chinese language abilities, so going to China immediately after I graduate is the most likely scenario. The eventual goal is to do something similar to what I do now with the non-profit organization I founded, Students for Students, Inc--helping underprivileged students. I'd like to use the knowledge I've learned through this non-profit and my economics studies to benefit China, helping those in the rural countryside get out of poverty. But I'm open to any opportunities right now, especially something in finance or consulting.

What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
Consistent hard work. No single assignment is particularly overwhelming, it just gets that way if you slack off or get behind. If you stay on top of your work, when it does get messy, at least you're only dealing with current assignments and readings--not stuff you should have taken care of long ago.

How do you manage your demanding schedule?
Sleep very little when I have to, which is quite often. When it comes down to choosing between school, athletics, friends, extra-curriculars, work, and sleep, it's usually sleep that gets the ax. I'm probably doing irreparable damage to my body, but right now it's getting the job done and I'm having an awesome time doing it.

What is your ritual before taking a test?
The closest I get to a ritual is cramming--it happens pretty much every time.

What are your favorite quotes?
"You're only young once, but you can be immature forever." --Dave Barry

Why Rob is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
Rob is a remarkable young man. Since arriving in Nashville, he has devoted himself to helping others and providing opportunities for those less fortunate. Last year, he founded Vanderbilt Students for Students (VSS, http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/vss/), a non-profit organization that provides guidance and financial scholarships to students from underprivileged high schools. He is also one of 47 Vanderbilt students in the Ingram Scholarship program; selection is based upon academic merit and community service. In addition, Rob somehow finds time to practice and compete while majoring in Economics and East Asian Studies (he is also fluent in Chinese). Rob is a great representative of Vanderbilt and its core values and I am certain he will continue to make positive contributions to humanity. --Shawn Fagan

Past Recipients...

January 2005

Academic Support for Student-Athletes | Vanderbilt University
Department of Student Athletics | 2601 Jess Neely Drive | Nashville, TN 37212
Phone (615) 343-0444