When Jessica Drake ’24 first arrived on Methodist University’s campus in 2020, it was nearly impossible to hold a conversation with her, let alone get her to speak. Drake credits her education and experiences at MU as some of the key reasons for her progression, which makes it that much sweeter as she prepares to earn her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology this Saturday.
When Jessica Drake ’24 first arrived on Methodist University’s campus in 2020, it was nearly impossible to hold a conversation with her, let alone get her to speak.
“I was almost mute,” said Drake. “But I’ve grown a lot as a person the last four years here.”
Drake credits her education and experiences at MU as some of the key reasons for her progression, which makes it that much sweeter as she prepares to earn her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology this Saturday.
Basketball Passion Leads to MU
Drake grew up with a competitive family in Fresno, Calif. as she constantly strived to keep up with her two older, and much taller, brothers at any sports they played – especially basketball.
“We always tried to one up one another with anything we did, so it was very competitive,” she added. “Quentin and Andrew are 6’3” and 6’4” and both played along the offensive line in football so I had to find any advantage I could to beat them at anything.”
That competitive spirit sparked a love for basketball. Originally, Drake did not believe she would play the sport past high school, but her plans changed when Methodist University women’s basketball head coach Cheryl McNair spotted her during one of Drake’s tournament games in South Carolina.
“We started communicating and she told me about the environment at MU,” Drake said. “She and the other student-athletes at the time reached out to me to tell me about how everyone knows each other and that it’s a second home for them, which is what I wanted. When I got here, that’s exactly how it was.”
Drake was also sold on Methodist University’s Kinesiology program and the impressive 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio on campus.
“I knew I wanted to become a trainer and I found out how impressive the program was here… On top of that the classroom sizes are smaller, so I knew I could get that one-on-one relationship with the professors,” she added.
Quiet and Steady Growth
Drake admits she went through a culture shock initially during her move from California to North Carolina, especially when she first found out about the fast-food chain, Cook Out. But the most difficult adjustment for Drake was communication.
“I’m naturally a very quiet person, so when I first arrived on the women’s basketball team, they would specifically talk to me all of the time to get me to talk,” she said.
As Drake matured through her years, some of Drake’s fondest memories came on the Riddle Center basketball court, where she played for the Monarchs for all four seasons.
“One of my proudest accomplishments for the team is the fact that we had a 1-11 record during my freshman season. This year, we ended up as conference champions,” Drake said.
The Monarchs clinched the co-regular season USA South Athletic Conference championship in February, making it the first regular season title for the program since 2001.
Drake also earned second team all-conference honors this season as she led the league with a 58% three-point mark and ended her career third on the all-time MU list for three-point field goals. She also set the MU record for the most made three-point field goals in a single game on two different occasions – originally making seven in 2022 and then eight in 2024.
Her personal growth could be seen on the court as she became a team captain her junior and senior season.
“I still wouldn’t say I was the most vocal, but I led by example,” Drake said. “I didn’t yell at anyone. I would pull my teammates aside, one-on-one, and talk to them and have a conversation. Even if they could do things better than me, I wanted to help them if that helped the team.”
According to McNair, Drake’s development over the last few years has been remarkable.
“It was an immense pleasure to watch Jessica develop on and off the court,” said McNair. “She has a quiet determination that initially may go unnoticed. However, she proved that you do not have to be the loudest person in the room to make the biggest impact. I trusted her as my captain. Jessica was a leader who embraced all her teammates and, in turn, uplifted an entire program.”
Enriching Academic Experience
While Drake cherishes her time on the court, her academic experience is what counted most.
“I’ve learned a lot through the Kinesiology program, both in and outside the classroom. From my internship to my classes to the study sessions with my classmates, it has been an awesome experience,” said Drake.
Drake also mentioned how the program helped her learn the anatomy and physiology of the human body, kickstarting her dream of becoming a head strength and conditioning coach for a football team one day.
On top of her academics and time on the women’s basketball team, Drake also participated in the Black Student Union and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on campus.
When Drake graduates with her degree in Kinesiology this weekend, it will be a special moment for not only her personally, but her family as well.
“My brother will be graduating from the University of South Carolina right before I graduate, and we’ll be the first two in our family to earn a college degree,” Drake said. “I always tried to push him to graduate by letting him know that I was about the graduate, so this is a big milestone for us.”
Drake is especially thankful for her two parents, William and Crystal, who made sacrifices to make sure she could play basketball, which helped her land at Methodist University.
“My parents are my inspiration,” she added. “Ever since I was a kid, my parents sacrificed their time and money to let me play on AAU basketball teams and my brothers play football. They encouraged me along the way so I want to continue to become a better person so I can help them later on.”
Following graduation, Drake plans on moving to South Carolina, where her family currently lives, to start her career in athletic training.
This Saturday, Drake will be hooded by her father, a perfect way to conclude Drake’s undergraduate career at Methodist University – the place that helped her find her voice.
“Methodist University helped me grow a lot,” Drake said. “The difference between now and four years ago is night and day. Here, I realized that my voice does have power and that I can lead other people through example. I’m thankful for my time here.”
Methodist University’s Kinesiology program guides students to a variety of high-demand careers as a kinesiologist, chiropractor, exercise physiologist, athletic trainer, physical therapist, sports scientist, or even graduate school. To learn more or to apply to the program, visit the program webpage.