March-Vanderbilt 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 a role model for current and future VU students and student-athletes.

March 2005

Kenan Arkan - Football

Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
I don't think you can beat the incredible opportunity to get a Top-25 education while playing in the top football conference in America. It's a very rare combination that maybe three schools in America possess. Also, the city itself and the loyal fans are great selling points for any prospective student-athlete.

What are your career goals?
I graduated in May 2004, and I am now in the process of getting my MBA at Owen Graduate School of Management. I just accepted an offer to work for Goldman Sachs during the summer and I am determined to turn it into a full-time job when I graduate in 2006. Beyond that, I want to be looked at as someone who is a success as a result of dedication and perseverance.

What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
Hard work. The people around you will help you with everything else whether it's personal, athletic, or academic, but you are the only one responsible for putting in the time when it comes to schoolwork.

How do you manage your demanding schedule?
Constantly making to-do lists, sacrificing sleep, giving up video games, and being extremely selective about any extra activities. Prioritization is the key, so that means no social life during the season.

What is your ritual before taking a test?
Memorize the material so well I don't have to worry about it, and then pretend to relax.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Why Kenan is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
I have known Kenan Arkan for almost five years. He is a person of great honesty and integrity, as well as profound focus, intelligence, and drive. He has excelled in the classroom, on the football field, and in the community, and has served as a role model for Vanderbilt students and student-athletes alike. I have no doubt that Kenan will have a lasting positive impact on the world. It has been a pleasure to work with him over the years. --Elizabeth Wright

Anna Morgan - Women's Track and Field

Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
When I began applying to college, my immediate thought was to choose a school that was within driving distance from my home in Chicago. From there I looked at the size of the school, and narrowed my choices from about 6 schools down to only 2 that I actually wanted to attend, Vanderbilt being one of the two. There was really no debate when deciding to come to Vanderbilt. I applied early decision because it encompassed so many of the qualities in a school that I was in search of. Vanderbilt is the perfect size school, it has a great balance of students who work hard and like to have fun, it is close to a city, it is in the south, and it has an amazing Department of Education. The idea of going to any other school has never crossed my mind. The reasons why I applied to Vanderbilt are the reasons why I love it here, and all of the expectations I had have both been upheld and exceeded.

I am majoring in Child Development with a minor in Special Education. I know that I want to work with children, but I am unsure of what I want to do following college. As of right now, I am hoping to get involved in education policy, most likely in the inner cities (maybe in Chicago), in order to help children of the inner cities receive better educations. There are so many children who are not receiving proper educations, due to lack of funding, improper teaching, lack of motivation and role models, etc. and I think these children deserve the chance to succeed just as people who grow up receiving a proper education do.

In order to be academically successful at Vanderbilt, it takes a tremendous amount of discipline. I think that anyone who has the will to succeed can, but they must be willing to make sacrifices. Some people are naturally smart and can get by without doing much work, but that is rare and I am most definitely not one of those people. Because of that, I have to budget my time well and limit the amount of socializing that I can do. But it is all worth it, once you find the appropriate balance.

Being a student-athlete has taught me so much about discipline, time management, and the importance of sleep. I have learned that it is possible to accomplish everything I want to, but it takes a lot of planning and motivation. When I have a difficult week approaching, I make sure to use every minute of time I have effectively. After practice I allow myself time to relax at dinner with my team, but I know that after dinner it is time to work. I constantly set goals for myself, reminding myself that once I achieve that goal (like studying for a test), I can get some kind of reward (usually sleep, or being able to watch a television show). This work-reward relationship is what gets me through tough weeks, and I have learned that I can rely on it.

I usually try to start studying for a test several days before the test. This allows me sufficient time to review the material in the textbook, review the lecture notes, and to make a study guide. When I make my study guide, it usually involves writing down all the important concepts from both the textbook and the lecture notes. I then use this to study from until it's time to take the test.

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." -Mother Teresa

"Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character." -Margaret Chase Smith

Why Anna is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
I nominated Anna Morgan for the March Student Athlete of the Month because I believe she is the epitome of what a student athlete really is. She is an outstanding student in the classroom and a very talented middle distance runner on the track. Anna has been on the SEC Honor Roll multiple times and has really excelled as a quiet leader on the Vanderbilt Track & Field team. She has also participated in several of the community service projects that have been sponsored by the athletic department. The sky is the limit for Anna and she is well deserving of this honor. --Max Martin

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