GRATEFUL FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

Isaiah Wilson ’19 has a way of making things look easy. On the basketball court, the 6’2” guard for the Regis men’s basketball team tips in the ball for two points. As president of the Student Government Association (SGA), he is building a close-knit community for his Class of 2019. And academics? Wilson sets a personal goal to beat his previous semester’s grade point average. (During the Fall 2016 semester he earned a 3.75.) But it hasn’t come without hard work—and learning how to be grateful.

“Coach Nate [Hager] encourages the team to be grateful for the opportunities that we are presented,” Wilson says of his basketball coach and mentor. “It’s easy to forget the little things we have—playing basketball, walking, going to college, and having family to go home to.”

Wilson has developed a greater sense of gratitude through the community service he performs with teammates, whether cheering on and coaching participants in the Special Olympics or having dinner with patients and families at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Boston. “Tomorrow is not promised,” Wilson says simply. “You always have to keep fighting.”

Sometimes, that means stepping out of what is comfortable and leaving your worries at the door. Wilson admits that in high school, he focused on football and basketball (worthy in itself); but he wanted to change that once he came to Regis.

“There was something about the Regis community that gave me confidence and the ability to trust myself for who I am,” he recalls of stepping into roles such as SGA president and resident assistant. “I stopped worrying about what people would say or think about me.”

No worries about his reputation; unbeknownst to Wilson, fellow students point to him as a mentor, one who inspires them to work harder and be more involved. This kind of community building will serve him well as he pursues a career in business. Among his goals: “Build great relationships with coworkers and find opportunities to grow.”

As for his 3.75 GPA, Wilson will keep setting higher goals. “My merit scholarship has pushed me to work harder, but I want overachieve. I always want to exceed expectations.”