BOWIE, Md. – Throughout the Fall 2020 semester, the Bowie State University Department of Athletics will spotlight one student-athlete or administrator in wake of COVID-19 pandemic that forced CIAA to suspend fall competition until the spring of 2021. This week's spotlight will feature Aseyah Alexander, a standout softball player, from Silver Spring, Maryland.

Alexander grew up as a quiet and shy type of person. She always found enjoyment in shopping, meditating, and with getting her hair and nails done. But playing sports was something that did not intrigue her. Yet, her mother believed that playing sports would make her daughter more outgoing, so when she was six-years-old, she signed Alexander up for the Olney Boys and Girls Club softball program.

 "If it wasn't for my mother, I don't think I would be playing any sports," Alexander said. "At first, it was hard but as I got used to it, I enjoyed it. I love softball. It's a gateway to get an escape from things. And my mother made me keep playing. She was like 'Yep' this is going to get you into college."

After playing three years for the Olney Boys and Girls Club team, she decided to play travel softball—which is like AAU basketball—after someone suggested the idea to her. There she played for MBSA Storm, a team in Gaithersburg, Maryland followed by time playing with the Olney Cougars and Burnsville Heat, a team now called the Maryland Heat. After playing softball four years at Springbrook High School, she enrolled at Hampton University before transferring to Bowie State University the summer after her freshman year.

"I was still playing over the summer," Alexander said. "In my last year of travel softball, I played in Pennsylvania and we were playing this team—and a Bowie coach was there. After she saw me play, she asked about me and then offered me some money. I left Hampton only because I wasn't playing at that point in time. I was practicing and everything after making the team as a walk-on.

But I knew they weren't going to offer me any money. And I knew they were bringing in a lot of incoming freshmen. I just didn't want to waste my time, because I really wanted to play. So, once I got this opportunity—which was closer to home—there was no question about it."

Alexander also compared the difference in being a Division I and Division II is fast-paced as well. But I feel like Division I is more competitive and everything is more fast-paced. They also make your schedule for you; you're basically their athlete. But I felt like I didn't have much free time to do anything.

When I came to Bowie State, it was like more opportunities for me. I could also be myself and not just an athlete. I could be more involved with things on campus and still play my favorite sport. I didn't know what to expect when I came to Bowie; I just knew I was coming. I stayed on campus my sophomore year and had fun. I made a family at Bowie and really just enjoyed being there."
In her three years at Bowie State, besides being a captain on the softball team, Alexander enjoyed the thrilling homecomings—an event that draws the interest of students from other HBCU institutions—and the freedom to participate in different clubs on campus such as Caribbean Club and Navigators.

When it comes to leaving Bowie State in May, as a member of the 2021 graduating class, Alexander says she is excited to receive her degree despite the high probability the event once again will occur virtually due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

She says her family will be happy and support her regardless if the event is held traditionally or not. She looks forward to seeing the smiles on her grandparents' faces as she becomes their first grandchild to graduate from college.

After college, Alexander says she wants to attend graduate school and become a sports psychologist.

"I want to stay in grad school for about two years," Alexander said. "And then see if I can work.  I want to be a sports psychologist. So, I can work with athletes and help them with their mental health. I knew I wanted to do something in sports because I have a strong passion for sports and athletes in general. And mental health is a big thing for me because I struggled mentally as an athlete when I came to Bowie. And, it's like, if you don't have positive mental health, you can really go downhill, and your mental health can take over your whole body."

Before Alexander graduates from Bowie State, her lone goal is to accomplish the task of receiving straight A's after finishing a semester. When it comes to the legacy she wants to leave at Bowie State; it's quite simple: "I want people to know who I am, what I did, and what I worked for."