AVONDALE – Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (TJCA) high school students had the opportunity to participate in “The Scholar Athlete” Symposium last Friday in Leitner Auditorium.
Students were able to hear from alumna Dr. Arden Slavov, a 2009 graduate of TJCA, who currently serves as an assistant professor of sport management at High Point University, as well as TJCA senior director of business and athletics Steven Jones, and assistant athletic director Brian Espinoza, who has also served as the head soccer coach for TJCA men’s and women’s program for over 20 years. All three individuals spoke about the challenges and rewards of being a scholar-athlete, as well as what it takes to be one.
Slavov, who played Division I volleyball, was the first student at TJCA to receive both an academic and athletic scholarship to college. Her jersey, which has been retired, still hangs in the trophy case outside the Middle School Gym.
“Being a scholar-athlete did not mean I was perfect,” she said. “It did not mean I never struggled, and it certainly did not mean everything came easily. What it meant was that I learned, very early on, how to manage my time, my energy, and my priorities.”
Slavov discussed the early mornings, the late nights, and the classes and practices in between. She even talked about times she failed, but she learned something from those moments: resilience.
“It taught me how to show up consistently, even when motivation was low,” she said. It taught me discipline, doing the work because it mattered, not because someone was watching. It also taught me accountability, understanding that my choices, both in the classroom and on the court, had consequences.”
Slavov also shared that she continues to carry those lessons with her even today.
“Being a scholar-athlete opened doors I didn’t even know existed at the time,” she said. “It allowed me to travel across the country and around the world, visiting eight countries. It led me into research, writing, and becoming a published author. It shaped me into an educator, and now I get to work with students who are trying to figure out their own paths.”
Slavov asked the students to do three things as they continue on their journey: protect their priorities, trust their timing, and never let outside pressure shrink or dictate their dreams.
“Every one of you will be given opportunities,” she said. “Opportunities don’t always arrive perfectly packaged. Sometimes they look like extra work, discomfort, or sacrifice. But if you learn to recognize opportunity, and have the courage to take advantage of it, you give yourself the chance to create your own great moments.”
Espinoza, who has had a lot of success both as a player and a coach, shared personal experiences with the students about why he coaches with an academics-first philosophy.
“This isn’t a rule I enforce to keep my players eligible; it’s a philosophy for life,” he said. “Many believe that to be a champion, you have to sacrifice your studies, that every hour spent in the library is an hour lost on the field. I am here to tell you the opposite is true. Our teams haven’t found success in spite of putting books first; we have found success because of it.”
Espinoza believes preparation, focus, and accountability are key to the classroom and the field.
“When we prioritize academics, we develop smarter athletes,” he said. “Being a scholar-athlete is not about balancing two different worlds; it’s about recognizing they are the same world. The excellence you pursue in the classroom is the very foundation of excellence we achieve on the grass.”
For Jones, who has coached on both the high school and collegiate levels, he understands what it takes to be a scholar-athlete.
“People often act as academics and athletics compete, but at TJCA, they actually build each other,” he said. “Academics and athletics don’t divide us; they develop the same skills in different arenas.”
Jones used real examples of how skills translate from academics to athletics and vice versa.
“Athletes deal with failure constantly, but the best athletes fail productively,” he said. “That’s the same in academics.”
Jones also shared how being a scholar-athlete prepares you for the future.
“You’re not just students who play sports, and you’re not just athletes who go to class, you’re both,” he said. “That combination is what prepares you for life. The goal isn’t to balance academics and athletics. The goal is to let each make you better at the other.”
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