Tracy King
Tracy King enjoys a good challenge.
If fact, staying out of her comfort zone helps to spur her creativity, she said.
“I love thinking outside of the box and challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone,” said King, 21. “It expands my mind and helps me create better work.”
And that applies both on the court and in the classroom for the junior graphic communication major, who also is a guard for the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team.
King, an Alexandria, Va. native, balances her success as a student and as an athlete with a disciplined work ethic and a focus on excellence – attributes her parents impressed upon her early on, she said.
“Before play, we had to study in my house growing up,” she said. “My school work takes priority over everything else.”
King’s interest in graphic communication heightened in high school when she enrolled in a graphic arts class. Her teacher pushed her to improve her skills and her passion for the craft grew.
“Art allows you to express yourself, express how you think and express your emotions,” King said. “When you design, you have the opportunity to show your uniqueness. I enjoy being able to use my creative mind and artistic ability and applying them to real life business situations.”
Outside of the classroom, basketball remains King’s first love. For the second year, she was selected as captain of the women’s basketball team.
“I take my responsibility as a member of the team very seriously,” she said. “Traveling and missing classes can be challenging at times, but I communicate and build relationships with my professors so they understand that each class is important to me whether I am present or not.”
In addition, King serves as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and works with A&T’s Academic Mentoring Program to offer guidance to freshmen regarding the transition to college.
King also joins her teammates as a volunteer with Hampton Elementary School’s active program, which uses fun activities prior to tutoring sessions to help motivate students to learn. She is a volunteer with the Aycock Aggies mentoring program at Aycock Middle School, which offers 8th graders guidance and encouragement about being successful in high school and college, and she assists students weekly at Eastside Park Community Center with homework, reading and math. Last summer, she coached 4- and 5-year-old athletes as a volunteer for Hayes-Taylor YMCA’s basketball program.
King’s goals include graduating in the top 5 percent of her class, attending graduate school and ultimately putting her graphics communication knowledge to work within the sports industry. She also sees herself working as a sports administrator or coach.
No matter what, the self-driven athlete knows anything is possible.
“I do not settle when I know I am capable of doing better or going the extra mile to achieve my goals,” King said. “My parents, professors, advisors and coaches set high expectations for me, and I love rising to any challenge, on and off the court.”
