FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern baseball player
Roberto Baroniel recently had the opportunity to attend the Division II SAAC Identity Workshop, held at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis.
The two-day event took place April 11-12, and Baroniel was chosen as the Sunshine State Conference’s representative.
“They basically chose one rep per conference,” said Baroniel. “I had gone to a SAAC Elite Weekend at the conference headquarters and had shown interest in wanting to be on the national committee. I applied, and knowing that, the conference selected me to represent them.”
“Passion” was a buzzword used often throughout the convention, and one of the bigger things Baroniel took away from it.
“When you get older, you need to do something that you’re passionate about,” he said. “Don’t always just follow what someone wants you to be or where the money’s at, or what’s convenient, make sure what you’re doing in life is what you love doing. That’s what all of the speakers there hit on, because they’re passionate about working with student-athletes and the NCAA.”
Now, the exercise science major believes his experience has given him more opportunities for what he’d like to do after his playing career is finished.
“This is what I love doing, I love being in meetings, talking about how to improve things,” he said. “I don’t know yet how that’ll tie into my career. I want to play professional baseball and I'm leaning towards physical therapy (as a career). But after being in SAAC, becoming the president of SAAC, and now going to Indianapolis, this convention has showed me another door and I don’t know how to incorporate it yet. I’m good at talking to people and brainstorming, and I want to continue to make a change in people’s lives. I’ve started making a difference at this school and in this community, and that’s what motivates me. That’s what I’m passionate about, making positive changes.”
The workshop focused on many things, including community engagement and social media, and the “I Choose Division II” identity.
“One of the speakers talked about finding your identity while you’re in college and put that brand out there for other people to see, and what that means as far as being a Division II student-athlete,” said Baroniel. “He said not to look at what Division II isn’t, since a lot of people compare it to DI. Division II is its own brand, a separate entity, and there’s a lot more focus on the student-athlete.”
DII partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and sets a big priority on student-athletes and their community engagement.
“Make-A-Wish started partnering with Division II years ago, and they started off raising $45,000, and in 2011-12, it’s up to $468,570,” said Baroniel. “They’re trying to break that half-million mark, and we’re the only division partnering with them. It’s known throughout DII. And the whole philosophy behind community engagement is that it’s not community service. There’s a difference. Community engagement means actually going out there as student-athletes and engaging a community. Going out there, being a face, talking to them and having them support you. You have to be a friend to the people out there and they give something back.”
As far as social media, the SAAC members were not just cautioned about responsible use, but were told how to use it as a definite positive.
“They’re transitioning from it being frowned upon, saying ‘don’t tweet, don’t post pictures,’ to telling us that it’s all right to post them, but be conscientious of what you’re putting up there. Be positive, use that to your advantage. You’re a DII student-athlete, promote your brand and school, what you’re doing in your community.”
Baroniel now hopes to use his experience to continue growing as a member of the NSU athletics family, both as a part of his team and within the community.
“Being a baseball player, it’s great, but one of the goals we have as a team is to change our reputation on campus,” said Baroniel. “Moving forward, we’re trying to change and represent baseball and our school well. Our history is young, in terms of athletics, we’re trying to get our name out there and build upon that. It was definitely an honor to represent this school and this conference.”
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