New York Liberty All-Star forward Shameka Christon visits the IS 211K community. Eighth grade girls at John Wilson Intermediate School 211 in Brooklyn got a rare treat last Wednesday when they had a visit from New York Liberty All-Star forward Shameka Christon to commemorate the 24th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day. She spoke to students about the importance of education, physical fitness, dedication to hard work in sports, and self-esteem.
“For me, it’s a tremendous feeling to give back, to talk to kids, both boys and girls,” said Christon. “I want the girls to take pride in who they are. Be the beautiful ladies that you are. Knowledge is power. The more you learn, the better off you are.”
“Shameka told us that if you set your mind to something, nothing can stand in your way,” said student Tonya Merisier said. “The sky is the limit.”
Cheerleading Captain Latoya Williams said, “If you know that you want to do something in life, go ahead and do it. You have to complete your dreams and goals. You shouldn’t let negative thoughts get you down.”
“We at John Wilson are thrilled that Shameka Christon was able to come to our school to talk to our young ladies,” said Buffie Simmons-Peart, I.S. 211’s principal. “”We are doing whatever it takes to help our children follow their aspirations and make sure that our children are exposed to positive inspirational influences in their lives.”
District 18 Superintendent Beverly Wilkins said, “We are focused on a program of a healthy lifestyle and the importance of proper diet and exercise. In support of our work and the Chancellor’s initiative, we have role models, such as Shameka, who partner with us to make students aware of the benefits of social and emotional health.”
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