The student-athlete spotlight is a monthly Q&A feature from the Penn State Altoona Athletics Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. Q&A conducted by McKenzie Quirin.

Jarrett Gardner

Hometown: Live Oak, Florida

High School: Suwannee High

Major: Criminal Justice

Year: 5th-Year Senior

Sport(s): Basketball

In what ways do you identify yourself?

I identify myself as a 23-year-old black man with a strong work ethic, goal oriented, and a humble person.

What made you want to attend Penn State Altoona?

I committed to playing basketball for PSA in the summer of 2021. I graduated from Florida Gateway College, a small junior college in Lake City, Florida, with my AA degree in EMS and Firefighting. After being recruited and experiencing the small-campus, big-opportunity environment, I decided to commit to Penn State Altoona.

What are some of your favorite positive memories from your time as a Penn State Altoona student-athlete so far?

My favorite memories as a PSA student-athlete would be when we went to Florida to play in a tournament my first year, all the long road trips, and my teammates making all of the early mornings and late nights fun. My favorite memory from this year is when my family was able to come up from Florida for senior day and got to experience the exciting atmosphere at home and the team getting the big win over La Roche.

What were some of your goals, both athletically and academically, this semester/season?

My goal this year athletically was to help bring a conference championship home, and unfortunately, we fell short of that, but that does not take away from all of the hard work we all put in to get to that point. Academically, my goal is to keep pushing forward for one more semester until graduation. Graduating from Penn State will be my biggest accomplishment so far.

Have you ever had any instances in your sport where you felt that someone was being insensitive, or in which you felt personally attacked? If so, how did you handle that?

I never felt like any of my teammates "attacked me" because I would always be one of the ones who told jokes and made everyone laugh. At times I would get overlooked, but by working hard and staying positive, I was able to play to my fullest potential during one of our biggest games this year.

In what ways have you felt supported by teammates, coaches, and/or the Athletics department?

During the times when I did not feel confident, my teammates and coaches were there to lift me up. They would always tell me to "get out of my own head" because that has been my downfall for the last three years. But because of the love and support I would get from my team, I kept going and working hard on my game.

Outside of Athletics, how are you supported by the rest of the Penn State Altoona campus community?

The past three years, I have gotten nothing but love and support, from the Chancellor's office to the faculty and students on campus. Being able to walk on campus and have the faculty and staff members know you has always been a good feeling for me. Knowing that you have support on the outside of athletics makes you want to work harder, because you know they are supporting you, and that is one of the best feelings for me.

Who are some of your biggest role models or influencers, both on-and-off the court?

My teammates, the coaching staff, and past teammates were big influences on the court, because they helped me "get out my own head" and gave me harsh constructive criticism. That criticism made me who I am on the court. Off the court, my family and my girlfriend's family were big influences for me these past two years, because they also helped me "get out of my own head" by giving me constructive criticism about my actions and my attitude off the court.

Do you have any advice or encouraging words for fellow student-athletes at Penn State Altoona?

My advice for PSA student-athletes is to stay focused, stay positive, and most importantly, stay self-motivated, because there are going to be more people hating on you than supporting you. Lastly, be still and understand that emotions come and go. Learn to embrace and accept it all.

Rapid Fire

1. Who is your favorite professional and collegiate sports team? Collegiate - Florida State; Professional - Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers
2. Who is your favorite professional athlete? Shaquille O'Neal (Shaq) - 7'1, 324 lbs.
3. What is your favorite movie/TV show? Chicago Fire
4. Do you listen to any music before games as a pregame ritual? If so, what is it? Hip-hop/rap, calming music, and gospel rap
5. Do you have a favorite pregame meal? If so, what is it? We always had chicken and rice before games, so I would have to go with the fiesta lime chicken at Applebee's
6. What is one quote that is your favorite that you tend to live by? "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." -Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson