Episode 11 | To The Mountaintop with Jerica Williams

In this episode of the "To The Mountaintop" podcast, host Drew Schlosberg and Deandre Little, a student from Mount McGill High School, interview Jerica Williams, a former basketball player at UCLA and San Diego State, to discuss her journey and experiences. Jerica was joined by her son, Jeriah, a high school student. She emphasizes the importance of empathy in coaching and leadership, sharing her unique role as the only active female coach in men's college basketball. Jerica founded "Her We", an organization aimed at empowering young women through sports. The conversation touches on the value of staying present, the impact of mentorship, and the broader world beyond sports.Jerica Williams' Basketball Career and Early LifeJerica discusses her basketball career, starting at UCLA and then transferring to San Diego State.She reflects on her experience at UCLA, feeling humbled and needing to start over.Deandre asks Jerica about her upbringing in San Diego, and Jerica shares her journey from Spring Valley to Mount McGill High School.Jerica recounts winning a free throw contest at Spring Valley Rec, which sparked her interest in basketball.Role Models and MentorsDrew asks Jerica about her role models, and she mentions Tom Davis, the creator of the podcast series.Jerica shares a story about Tom Davis, highlighting his continued passion for basketball.Deandre talks about his high school experiences and community service, and Drew praises his involvement.Jerica discusses her interest in biology and the influence of her mentors in shaping her career path.Empathy and CoachingDeandre asks Jerica about the importance of empathy, and she emphasizes its role in coaching and leadership.Jerica shares her experience as the only active female coach in men's college basketball and the unique challenges she faced.She discusses the importance of listening and connecting with players, using her coaching experience as an example.Drew and Jerica talk about the significance of empathy in breaking down walls and fostering collaboration.Jerica's Organization and Personal GrowthJerica explains the purpose of her organization, Her We, which aims to give girls and young people a voice.She shares her motivation for starting the organization and the importance of hearing the voices of young women.Deandre asks Jerica about her advice for him as a rising freshman at San Diego State, and she emphasizes the importance of being present and enjoying the moment.Jerica reflects on her own experiences as a student-athlete and the challenges of balancing academics and sports.Final Thoughts and ReflectionsDeandre asks Jerica about her childhood and how the hype of being a top athlete affected her.Jerica shares that she was so focused on her work that she didn't realize the impact she had until later in life.Deandre asks Jerica about her future plans, and she expresses her desire to stay present and enjoy each moment.Jeriah shares his interest in computer science and artificial intelligence, and his experiences with robotics and coding.About Cloudcast Media | PODucationAs the national leader in local podcasting, Cloudcast Media proudly produces "To The Mountaintop" throught its SchoolCAST and PODucation platforms to help amplify, augment, and accelerate knowledge-acquisition for students while driving innovative new educational models. Podcasts reflect the greatest up-to-date, mobile, and accessible knowledge base ever created and PODucation is bridge to linking podcasts and curriculum to student brains. For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit their website at CloudCast Media. About Classroom of the Future Foundation ince 1997, the Classroom of the Future Foundation (CFF) has united business, community, and educational leaders to create innovative learning environments in San Diego County public schools. CFF, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, works to advance its mission by ensuring that San Diego students are prepared to thrive in a competitive global society.CFF is an extension of the San Diego County Office of Education and is known for being the convener of business, community, and educational leaders around innovation in education in our region. Moreover, CFF is a catalyst and champion for the creation of learning programs that apply proven business and technology-based practices in the school setting. CFF is also a trusted resource for school districts, and a thought leader on innovation in the classroom.About National University At National University we’re changing lives through education. National University is a Veteran-founded nonprofit and a top provider of credentials for teachers in the United States. It prepares more teachers for credentialing than any other institution in California. Driven by our mission and our 50+ year history of excellence, we empower students to join the ranks of our more than 230,000+ alumni worldwide and become well-rounded professionals striving to share their success ...