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Get Beeban to Boston

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Hi! My name is Beeban Jikiemi-Pearson and ever since I was a kid I have dreamt of going to America to play basketball at the collegiate level.

I first started playing basketball at 6 years old in Sydney, Australia. My mum signed my sister and I up as a way to free up extra hours to work. Two years later my family had to split temporarily and my mum moved across the world to London taking both my sisters, one of which was a newborn, and I with her. It was a massive change in my life; a completely new environment, culture and family dynamic. My mum enrolled in university and got her degree while working as a single parent. It was an immensely difficult time for my family, but I was shielded from that by joining basketball clubs like Kingston Wildcats and then Croydon Elite as the only girl in the club at 11 years old. I would ride the bus from one end almost to the other by myself in order to attend training.

The next few years were a blur of hard work. Balancing homework on my lap as the bus rattled through Croydon; switching clubs, travelling an hour on the train to get there. Not quite getting the gold but achieving second place in the U14 National league with Richmond Knights. Then, winning a sports scholarship to a prestigious school, that helped me to accomplish no grade below an A in my eleven GCSE’s. At sixteen I joined CoLA (City of London Academy Southwark), heart set on being part of its basketball programme, renowned throughout the UK.

During my first two years at CoLA I got a taste of the experience that would become my dream: balancing my responsibilities as Vice Student President of the school, with the rigour of my Further Maths A level whilst leading my team through the soaring heights and devastating lows of an entire season played during a pandemic — a season that ended in us falling short at the last hurdle and placing second in the Division 1 Women’s National League final!

I wasn’t ready to give up my team's dream of winning gold and I knew with one more season it would become a reality. This year I lead my team as their captain to win all 5 National Championships across 3 leagues! I am also predicted an A* in Mathematics and an A in Further Maths this year!

When the time came to choose universities in the U.K. I soon realised that I faced an impossible choice. All the best universities for me did not offer basketball to the level I wanted to compete at - in the way that American Unis did. I had to choose between education and following my dream–to play basketball at collegiate level.

I am a young black woman passionate about Mathematics. Facing down that choice, I knew my life goals required further education, especially when Black students are half as likely to graduate with a first class honours degree than their White counterparts in STEM academia. At 18, I had already defied society’s plan for me: 64% of girls quit sport at 16. To follow my dreams I knew I needed a top degree and I needed basketball. I needed to choose my own path – unhindered by society’s expectations.

But then, something incredible happened. A call from Coach Heather Jacobs of the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB), a top research university and a Division III athletic school in the U.S., with an offer to join their team! My team's success and my hard work as captain had brought me to her attention. This was my dream come true. I threw myself into the lengthy application process and after an excruciating three month wait…

I was awarded a place at UMB!

Opening my acceptance letter is one of my proudest moments; looking at that computer screen, my whole world opened up!

As a result, I would like to help mentor and guide future young women. I also realised I would need a business plan to make my dream a reality. So I have created a series of basketball skills and strength & conditioning workout packages to share!

Workout packages:

Beginner skills workout package - £20 and under
Intermediate skills and Strength and Conditioning package - £20-£100
Advanced skills and Strength and Conditioning package - £100-£500

All workout packages will be emailed directly once payment is received. Additionally, I am available for motivational talks, school visits and volunteer coaching sessions.

For all these reasons, I hope you can see that through your purchase not only are you helping me support my dream but I am excited to help you build yours. Support given to me will be fully backed up by my drive, credentials, and skills. I didn’t get to where I am now by sitting back and taking things for granted. I have positive energy and ambition in abundance, and this opportunity would mean the world to me. My coaches and teachers will attest to my discipline and commitment.

So that is my story, which has brought me to enact this business plan.

I pledge to honour the trust shown in me by your backing this project in this way and will use all my energy, skills and discipline to deliver valuable results.

Beeban x

Instagram: beebanjp

Linkedin: Beeban Jikiemi-Pearson

Watch this space - updates will follow!




Me with coaches celebrating my CoLA Journey


My bestfriend and I celebrating our 5th and final win at the Division 1 Women's National League Finals


My basketball highlight reel from this season

https://twitter.com/HoopsfixWomen/status/1532076012762169346?s=20&t=LwRoPT5s__eibW5GdN_ANA - A closer look at the standout success of my CoLA basketball team this year! 

UPDATE PHOTOS:


UMass Boston Gymnasium

View from the Aeroplane as I flew into Boston
A selfie of my teammates and I on Game Day

Rookie of the Week Poster

https://www.littleeast.tv/?B=405024 -link to our first game - and win - of the season!!

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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • £50 
    • 1 yr
  • Jackson Gibbons
    • £300 
    • 1 yr
  • Irina Behar
    • £300 
    • 2 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • £50 
    • 2 yrs
  • Chris Samson
    • £50 
    • 2 yrs
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Beeban Jikiemi-Pearson
Organizer

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