WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ferrum College senior Talum Smith has been honored by the Wrestle Like a Girl Foundation with the 2019 Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston Courage Award presented by Tiffany and Company.
Smith was presented with the award at the Wrestle Like a Girl Gala, held Wednesday, October 30, at the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. Accompanying Smith was Ferrum College President Dr. David Johns and Ferrum Women's Wrestling Coach Breonnah Neal.
The Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston Courage Award was created in 2016 by Wrestle Like A Girl to honor Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston and to recognize and celebrate the quality of courage that she admires most - personal courage.
The Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston Courage Award honors athletes who have to use immense personal courage to be able to participate or compete in sports, even when participation could put them at great risk. The award celebrates athletes who choose to stand up for what is right, and who do what is right, rather than what is easy.
The award recognizes an athlete in the United States or abroad whose actions demonstrate the qualities of personal courage in the spirit of Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, as she left a life in Iran to join her family in the United States, where she become the first woman in America's history to win a wrestling medal at the World Championships for the United States in 1989.
Smith has displayed the utmost courage and perseverance this far in her life. She was nominated for the award by her former coach Jessica Medina, who coached her for two seasons. Smith hails from Washington D.C. and will graduate from Ferrum this year.
Smith grew up in Washington, D.C., with no aspirations of going to college. It wasn't until she began wrestling and fell in love with the sport that she began thinking about earning a college education.
She initially had not intended to going to college, thinking she was not cut out for higher education. The other challenge was leaving her siblings. Through the encouragement of her high school coach, Smith decided to give collegiate wrestling a shot and enrolled at Ferrum. She faced many barriers, including finances, but took a chance and began her first year at Ferrum.
It was her second year at Ferrum that Medina first met Smith, who came out for the women's wrestling team. Unfortunately, she had a difficult first year as a college student and was ineligible for the season. Smith was also working a full time job at McDonalds in nearby Rocky Mount, Virginia, to pay for school. Her schedule did not allow her to practice full time, but she made every effort to be a part of her team and continued to make strides in the classroom with the intention of becoming eligible to get on the mat.
"Talum always came in with a smile on her face even on days she was facing adversity," said Medina.
Smith's story took a turn here.
Medina remembers that it had been a while since Smith had been in for workouts or team meetings, and assumed she was busy with work and school. Then one day she received a text from Smith asking to meet in Medina's office. The two set up a time and met in the middle of a school day. Medina was not sure what she wanted to discuss, then was blindsided … at the age of 19, Smith had been diagnosed with Leukemia.
"As she told me the news, Talum had a smile on her face," said Medina. "She told me she didn't want her teachers or her family to know. Talum didn't want anyone to pity her or worry. In that moment my gut instinct was to hold a strong face. It wasn't until she left my office that I broke down in tears. It was a lot to take in and my heart broke for her."
Throughout the Spring 2018 semester, Media said it was tough watching Smith as she continued to work, go to class and carry an oxygen tank around campus. She was undergoing treatments at the children's hospital in Roanoke, Virginia, and showing up to class. Medina remembers thinking that on her own tough days as a coach, she would stop and think of Talum and be inspired to push through.
At the end of her sophomore year, Smith returned to Washington, D.C., to be close to her siblings, continue treatments, work full time and take summer courses to raise her GPA. It would have been easy for her to take the summer off, especially after the diagnosis.
As fall of 2018 approached, her junior year, Smith was in remission and had hopes of competing as she had improved her GPA. Unfortunately, she fell short by a mere 0.1 in the requirements. It was discouraging for her and Medina, who knew she had done everything she could to become eligible.
The Ferrum women's wrestling team was more than a program, it was her family and a huge part of her support system. It would have been easy for her to give up or quit the team, but we sat down and put a schedule together that worked with her 21-hour class load and 40 hour/week job. Even if it was just a lifting session, a 6:00 a.m. practice or an opening in her schedule, she would show up to support the team. Medina could see the days were wearing on Smith and how important it was to make her a part of our wrestling family.
With her doctor's permission, Smith was able to return to the mat, this time with intentions of competing in the Spring 2019 semester. And that's just what she did.
In January 2019, she made her return to the mat in time for the Tornado Open, being hosted by King University in Bristol, Tennessee. Smith displayed courage on donning the Ferrum black & gold singlet and being back on the mat after such a long and arduous journey.
Smith wrestled her heart out that day, inspiring the rest of the Panthers. Though she did not receive a medal that day, she had already attained something more precious and invaluable. She embodied everything of a champion and more.
Smith is now in her senior year at Ferrum, and is once again part of the women's wrestling team. She intends to compete in the 171-pound weight class. Her intentions are to graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice in May 2020. When Smith walks across the commencement podium in May, she will do so with the pride in knowing that she put herself through college, leaving debt free.
