WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Daijion Lee from the Winston-Salem State University women's cross country/track and field team participated in the Black Student Athlete Summit in Chicago, Illinois on May 21-24.

The Black Student Athlete Summit is four days of programming where participants engage in career development sessions, financial literacy workshops and wellness activities designed to prepare them for life beyond sports.

"Going into this experience, I was honestly really nervous—especially traveling alone for the first time, said Lee. "Once I got to the hotel, I said a quick prayer, took a deep breath, and allowed myself to be fully present, and I'm so glad I did. It was incredible to connect with other student-athletes and professionals who not only looked like me but also understood my journey. This Summit helped me grow socially and mentally, and it gave me real confidence as I transition from being an athlete to stepping into the professional world."
 
Lee's key takeaways from the event were identifying who she was beyond track and field but realizing everything the sport gave her is tools she can use in the real world.
 
"Student-athletes develop discipline, resilience and adaptability – all valuable in the professional world, said Lee.
 
She learned the representation matters and seeing successful black professionals reinforced the importance of visibility. She learned that networking is essential, and she plans to use every connection she made. She learned to step into every space with confidence and intention.

The Black Student Athlete Summit is really a place for growing, connecting, learning and taking full advantage of opportunities for student-athletes outside of their sport and Daijion Lee plans to do just that.