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Ferris First (#Ferr1s): Sarah DeShone

Ferris State University faculty, staff and students come from all over the world with one thing in common- Ferris as ultimately their No. 1 choice. In the Ferris First series, we chat with members of the University community to learn more from them about why Ferris was their No. 1 choice.

They all have a story. Here, we tell part of that story. Meet: Sarah DeShone

Sarah DeShone

She is: a former women’s basketball player and student assistant coach from Elkhart, Ind. Sarah graduated from Ferris in Spring 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Physical Education. DeShone will be applying a lot of what she learned at Ferris to her upcoming student teaching position at Edwardsburg High School. She will also coach the junior varsity girls’ basketball team.

Why was Ferris your top choice coming out of high school? DeShone had two reasons she fell in love with Ferris. She was looking for a “small town yet a big college experience” and Ferris fit that description, perfectly. The other quality that she liked was the “unbelievably close-knit” relationships women’s basketball team enjoyed.

How did your pre-Ferris/high school experience prepare you for Ferris? “In high school, I only played AAU for one summer. I feel like it really helped me learn the more detailed aspects of the game which helped me become the player I was,” DeShone said. “Another part that prepared me was learning how to be a good teammate. I would still do anything for those girls because we formed a tight family knit that'll last forever and I feel like that transferred over to Ferris.”

What challenges have you had to overcome to be successful? “During my senior year of high school, I tore ligaments in my knee. It was (and still sometimes is) devastating to me and I had to overcome a lot to get back to the player I wanted to be,” DeShone said. “There were a lot of ups and downs with the injury, but in the end it made me a better player and helped me grow in my faith a lot.”

What motivates you to be successful? DeShone’s motivation came from her love for basketball and being able to share those memories with her best friends on the team. “I had the opportunity to share a state runner-up trophy with my high school teammates and it is the best feeling,” DeShone said. “Working together toward a common goal is enough motivation to get me going and working hard in the gym.”

What is your academics major and why did you choose it? “My major is high school or junior high Mathematics with a minor in Physical Education,” DeShone said. “Teaching kind of runs in our family, and I love kids.”

What are your most fond memories as a Bulldog? The experience DeShone gained through being on the Ferris basketball team was by far her favorite Ferris memory.

“I've met some pretty amazing people and I wouldn't trade it for the world,” DeShone said.