Posted: Apr 25, 2020

Senior Saturday Salute: Issiah Gossett

Sport(s): Track and Field

Event(s): Throws

Hometown: Parkersburg, W. Va.

High School: Parkersburg

Parents' Names: Tara and Chris Pickens

Other Clubs/Organizations: Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity (Phi Chapter), Interfraternity Council, Bethany Potter's Guild, Student Activities Council, American Chemical Society, Kappa Pi International Art, Fraternity (Epsilon Chi Chapter), Society for Distinguished Campus Leaders, Leadership Education and Development Program Graduate

Major: Visual Arts with a minor in Entrepreneurship

Prior to the season being interrupted, how was the year going - what was the team's expectations and goals?

Prior to the interruption, things were really looking up for me. I placed at the indoor PAC Championships in an event I didn't even want to do at the beginning of indoor season. I was very excited to get back to competing throwing the Javelin for outdoor after training and rehabbing my elbow over the past 10ish odd months after hurting it right before the outdoor PAC championships. I was also looking forward to get to photograph my teammates outside during the meets. As a team, things were also looking up, there were and are a lot of individual athletes competing at the highest level they'd been at, and I was excited to see what they could do throughout the season.

What are your personal career goals? Jobs, internships, interests moving forward?

Currently, I have a couple different options for career paths upon graduation. I was accepted to Miami University of Ohio for their Master's program for Student Affairs in Higher Education, I have a job offer from Phi Kappa Tau Nationals for their recruiter position, and I have a job lined up working in Title Research in Florida for different energy companies. No matter which path I take, I intend on keeping with photography and expanding what I've been able to do up until this point. I got credentialed to shoot a handful of different professional level events over spring break, only one of which I got to do before the country was absorbed by the panic of the corona virus. So, I plan to build on that once we as a nation get back to a more "normal" way of life as well as whatever career path I choose.

Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to Bethany?

The biggest advice I can give is that if you aren't happen with what you are doing, either make a change so that you like what it is you are doing or stop doing it and find something you are passionate about. I don't just mean with sports. At Bethany, I changed my major twice, tried two different sports prior to finding my place on the track team, and it took all those changes to find what I actually enjoyed and could be passionate about. That's one of the best things about Bethany, you'll get every opportunity to find what it is you are passionate about, so take advantage of your time here.

What has it meant to you being a Bison?

Athletically, it has meant the world to me. I've had some pretty bad injuries that I really should have just hung up the towel because of, but getting to be a part of the track and field team has really helped drive me to not only get back to where I was prior to those injuries, but get even stronger. Once I stopped playing football, I never thought I'd be able to get back to where I was athletically and getting to be a Bison has shown me that I could if I set my mind to it, and I think that has translated to a lot of things I do outside of athletics.

Who has supported you during your time as a student-athlete?

A lot of the stereotypical people supported me: friends, family, the coaching staff, and my professors. Additionally, Sam Goodge was a big part in getting me back to where I am as an athlete through the weight room. He did that by making me lift when I didn't want to, pushing me to hit numbers I never thought I could, and making me focus on form so that I could do things correctly and avoid injury. I believe I probably would not have been able to do that had he not been willing to train me.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 spring sports to be cancelled. Bethany College wants to thank all of our seniors for representing the Bison in a positive manner and for all their hard work and dedication over their careers at Bethany.