Football's Jaylin Dickerson Makes Impact Through Mentoring Program
Redshirt sophomore Jaylin Dickerson has dealt with his fair share of adversity during his South Carolina career. The defensive back has spent time on the sideline due to a shoulder injury requiring surgery during his first year as a Gamecock, and this year he was sidelined with a hip problem. This hasn’t affected the young man’s positivity, however.
Since the summer, Dickerson has been working with Caroline Neil, Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development, to create a way to impact the lives of others. Dickerson soon came up with a mentoring program to help middle schoolers in the Columbia area. As a result, Dickerson and more than 10 other student-athletes have been spending time at WG Sanders Middle School, mentoring children in any way possible.
“Growing up where I was born it was hard. No one was in our heads and our ears telling us to go further. We were trapped in a box where we couldn’t do anything, and we couldn’t excel,” Dickerson said. “So, if I get out and get this bigger image of myself, I can go tell any child that they can go as far as they want to in life. I feel that they can take that and reach any level they want to and go far in life.”
Caroline Neil described Dickerson’s ambition. “It was Jaylin’s whole idea. He came to me talking about his career and how he wants to go into sports psychology and it just amplified from there. He realized he wanted to make an impact on other people and help them through their trials because he has experienced so much in his life, and so he just wanted to help others through theirs. It’s beautiful. When he came up with the idea, we just started calling middle schools, trying to identify which ones needed help.”
“They can get through anything in this world if they have the right mindset.”
– Jaylin Dickerson
Talking about his mentoring, Dickerson shared the process he has been using with the middle school students. “I try to build a relationship with the kids. I said that we were going to be boys. It was kind of nerve racking at first. They were shy and timid, but then we just started talking and getting to know each other better, we just clicked. They started to open up and tell me about themselves. They talked about their pasts and their situations at home, and we just worked well together.”
Walking through the corridors with Dickerson when he arrived, you could see the school children pointing in eagerness at him. It was easy to see just how much of an effect he has had for these students at the school.
“Every Monday I come at 12 o’clock and just hang out, play basketball, things like that and talk to the kids,” Dickerson said. “As soon as I got here this morning, their teacher told me that the kids were asking about me early all morning and asking when I would get in. They couldn’t wait to see me. I feel like I’ve made an impact on them in a way that gets them wanting to go to school and learn; to make them want to look forward to the day, and that’s a great start.”
The children have influenced Dickerson as well. Dealing with injury is tough for any athlete, so the positivity he has taken from the students is helping.
“They’ve also made an impact on me. I’m just so motivated throughout the week,” Dickerson said. “As much as they want it to be Monday, I do as well. I wish I could be here more but with my schedule, it’s difficult. I can tell you though, I’ll be here next semester and even until they graduate.”
Dickerson has recruited other Gamecock student-athletes to do the same with children at the school, and he was surprised at their enthusiasm to help.
“It was easier to get the athletes to help than I thought it would be,” Dickerson said. “I thought they would be too busy or too tired after practices and competing, but most of them said ‘no, we’ll do it.’ They were asking when, where and what time and that they would be there. They all love it. A lot of them are relating with the kids. They know where they’ve come from as some have been there and they come from the same backgrounds. They know what it is like.”
The mentoring program with the athletics department has motivated Dickerson to go further with it. “I want to start my own mentoring program at some point. I have no idea about the name and where right now, but these kids have definitely started something for me and the future. I plan on making it grow to the furthest extent and keep on going because I want to do what is best for the children.
“I’d like to go into sports psychology. I’ve had a few injuries, and I’m overcoming adversity with them. I’d like to help others. I want to take guys out of the team and just talk to them to see what motivates them. Then I can help others with this and tell them they can get through anything in this world if they have the right mindset.”
