Secret Sportsgirl State Winner Talks Sports, Scholastics, and Self-Esteem
by Feona Sharhran Huff

• As far as being a team player, Tomea says it's important to be encouraging. She would tell her trackmates, "You'll get 'em next time," if they lost a race. • When it comes to getting an education, Tomea urges student-athletes: "Don't wait until the last minute to do your homework; do academics as you do your athletics."

Being a winner has a different meaning for Tomea Peebles, a freshman physical therapy major at Central Michigan University (CMU), Mount Pleasant, MI. According to the 18-year-old, winning isn't about coming in first place all the time or getting praise from coaches, peers, or even the media. It's about knowing you've done the best you can, and accepting that -- regardless of anyone else's sentiments.

It just so happens, though, that Tomea has received praise for her great track and field, scholastic, and community performances. They include being named MVP two years in a row (2001 and 2002) as a long jump and triple jump athlete at Rich South High School, Hazel Crest, IL, and earning the "Most Outstanding Field Event" title in her junior and senior years.

But Tomea's biggest award came at the end of 2002 when Secret Anti-Perspirant and the Women's Sports Foundation named her a state winner of Secret's Sportsgirl of the Year. The honor is shared among 49 other female student-athletes from around the United States.

Even though Tomea opted not to be on CMU's track team this year in order to focus on her studies, she still feels like a winner. Besides, she says, it's not the end of the world -- she'll try out for the team her sophomore year. Here's what the champ has to say about sports, scholastics, self-esteem, and more...

Stay True to Your Studies
Tomea decided to major in physical therapy because, she says, "I like science and want to know about the human body. It'll be exciting to understand." Choosing to forego sports her freshman year so she could focus on getting good grades and retaining what she was learning was a top priority for Tomea -- a decision that is working out fine. "So far, I'm doing pretty well," reports Tomea, who's currently enrolled in six classes.

She admits that it can be challenging to concentrate in classes you find boring, but she reminds herself, and beckons others, to find something that makes it interesting. And by all means, she says, do not take classes for granted. Her number-one strategy for getting her homework done while back in her dorm is turning off the TV.

Self-Esteem Is About Building Yourself Up
Tomea may come off as a soft-spoken, shy gal, but don't confuse that with a low self-esteem. In fact, she is very confident in her ability to be the best she can be, and make good decisions at CMU.

If you want to be a winner like Tomea, it's important to define success for yourself -- then you'll never have to compare yourself with anyone else.

If you're interested in finding out how to become a winner of Secret's Sixth Annual Sportsgirl of the Year, log onto www.secret.com or www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.