"There is no better than adversity.  Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss contains its own seeds – its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time."

• Malcolm X – Religious Leader/Human Rights Activist

SIOUX FALLS — As Xavier Scarlett stepped onto the graduation stage and shook the hand of University of Sioux Falls President Brett Bradfield, he knew in that moment his four years at the 135-year old institution had been life edifying.  The joy filled inside as he moved toward USF Dean of Chapel Dennis Thum to receive a purple towel which is a traditional gift awarded to graduates as a reminder of their call to service.

 

As he stepped down the steps of the graduation stage in the Washington Pavilion, Scarlett knew his road to this significant moment was paved in concrete experiences, which will provide him with knowledge and insight on matters that will come his way in the future.

From his own high expectations as a confident freshman student-athlete to being recognized as USF's Representative Man as a senior and earning undergraduate degrees in both biology and theology & biblical studies, Scarlett's journey has enveloped bumps on the road with uplifting experiences as he has successfully navigated into the next chapter of his life.

 "I have to say that my time here has been special and rewarding," said Scarlett, who has been an enthusiastic student leader, hard-working student-athlete and an ambassador for USF until the day he leaves for the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas in August. 

"To receive the Representative Man award was special to me," said Scarlett, who with Elizabeth Enalls, was selected the USF Cougars Day royalty and earned the prestigious Representative Man and Woman awards. Those Representative honors are annually awarded to a female and a male student exemplifying the ideal USF student, who is committed to USF and the purposes for which the school was founded. It is an award determined by vote of senior class members and represents the highest honor awarded to a USF student. 

 "It means so much because other students (seniors) thought so much of my efforts to recognize me. I will take my unique experiences, friendships and love for this place as I move forward," added Scarlett, who is the initial first generation male member of his family to earn a college degree.

Scarlett arrived as highly regarded student-athlete
Scarlett's route to Sioux Falls began with significant athletic and off the court success at Sioux City North High School. He was captain on a basketball team that played in three state basketball tournaments in Iowa as well as a two-way starter as a junior in football and a standout jumper and sprinter in track and field.

As he counseled with his parents on his collegiate destination, Scarlett, who served as president of the National Honor Society for three years at North HS, was convinced it included his favorite sport of basketball. Named for the former Wichita State and NBA great Xavier McDaniel, basketball seemed to be the route for his future and he was excited about the opportunity. But as happens in life, Scarlett soon found a different path and home at the University of Sioux Falls.

 "After talking with the USF coaches, being offered a track and field scholarship, and visiting campus, my perspective changed," said Scarlett, who qualified for the Drake Relays three times in the long jump and as part of North's 4x100-meter relay before later finishing third at the Iowa state meet in the long jump.  

"I remember visiting the campus and feeling that there was something different about this place (USF)," said Scarlett. "The people at USF showed how much they cared both to me and my parents," he said.  

Ready on arrival

Scarlett arrived at USF as a confident freshman prepared to make a difference on the track.

"I wanted to make an impact and be remembered at USF. I wanted to dominate in the jumps and sprints right away," recalled Scarlett. "I was confident and ready."

What Scarlett didn't realize then was his impact would take the shape of a person far different and mature from the one that stepped onto the USF campus as a freshman when he felt like athletics would be his ticket. 

Battling injury and changing focus

Despite an injury as a freshman at USF, Scarlett felt like he was making headway and expecting big things in track and field.

While being limited by an injury, Scarlett pressed forward. Resilience is a defining character trait within Scarlett, as noted by USF Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Doug Petersen. "He has an extra gear inside and it is in life and not just representative of his athletic wares."

During the summer between his freshman and sophomore years, Scarlett had put in hours upon hours of hard work and returned to campus leaner and stronger both physically and mentally.   

At the MSU-Chuck Peterson Open on Dec. 5, 2015, Scarlett won the men's long jump by going 21-11-05 and placed seventh in the 60-meter dash with a personal-best of 7.08 in the prelims.

"Getting that taste of victory and success was a great for me and had me thinking big," he said.

But, then the first of two life-changing circumstances impacted his life.

Early in his second season at a meet at South Dakota State, Scarlett ruptured his Achilles while long jumping. It was an injury which would alter his goal as a student-athlete and direction at USF.  

"It was devastating. I was worried right away because this wasn't a minor injury," said Scarlett, noting in those initial moments following his injury, a lot of thoughts rushed through his head, including whether he would ever compete at the level he expected.

Leaning on his faith
After a few days, he was still unsure about his future.  It was then he decided to lean on his faith and let God show him his path. He realized faith, plus patience and hard work would result in recovery both cerebrally and physically.

For Scarlett, his faith in God has always been his rock. It was a fundamental value instilled in him by parents. His mom Monique Scarlett, who is an evangelist in Sioux City, and his dad, Donald, who Scarlett calls one of the hardest working men he knows, directed him into faith and incorporated the values of love, trust and honor. And his grandma, Laura Sanders, who was a mentor and maybe his biggest supporter, also let him know of the importance of faith and holding true to God and the lessons of the Bible.

"I knew that I had to be careful about what I prayed for and lean on God to show me a direction," said Scarlett. "In my prayers I asked God to increase my faith.  And, I found that God was with me through the whole recovery process. He injected himself into every area of my life," he said.

In his heart of hearts, he knew faith would enable him to overcome any doubts or obstacles.

"Understand that I was born two and one half months premature. The survival rate for premature babies was six percent and my mom had lost two babies before," said Scarlett. "So, my whole life was built on faith."

As he worked through the issues with his injury and future, he also leaned on his family – his rock.

"During those tenuous days I needed to hear and talk with my mom. She is a direct reflection of my grandmother and both provided me this pillar of strength," he said. "And my dad, is a leader by example guy. He does not say much but just works tirelessly. He showed me the value of work and staying resilient," said Scarlett of his father, who works with the Juvenile Detention Center in Sioux City. 

Scarlett also had a revelation that there is so much to life – his life. Reflection was necessary.  
 
"It (reflection, talking with family and friends) was all valuable to me because I feared that I might never run or jump again. And, I worried about my scholarship and with it my future at USF."
 
It was then that Brian Sebera, USF's associate head coach, who works with sprinters and jumpers, entered his life. Though new to the campus and to Scarlett, he let the young student-athlete know the team stood behind him and he didn't have to worry about his scholarship.
 
"It was so comforting to know that my coaches and teammates were supporting me with everything that they had. They believed in me even when I did not believe in myself," said Scarlett, who established a close bond with Sebera. "I started have in-depth conversations with Coach Sebera and I learned a lot about him but also about me."

According to Sebera, Scarlett was at a cross road.

"No matter how you look at the situation, the most important part of it was Xavier. To help him find his place was really what was most important at that time and moving forward," Sebera said.

"We talked about life. How track and field has given him the stage to represent the Lord and why he chose to be here. What I saw in him was this extraordinary faith, unyielding resilience and an unwavering positive attitude," said Sebera.

"Xavier was mature. He was very positive and thoughtful of how he was going to get back to competitive stage. In his discussions to me, he said 'I am going to do rehab to the level that I can compete,'" added Sebera, noting that the discussions ranged to his relationship with Christ, about his grandmother and poetry and music.

With his nerves calmed and his plan set, Scarlett began his road to recovery.  He spent endless hours rehabbing and preparing himself for competition. At the same time, he became even more involved in campus activities and even took on a role as an admissions ambassador.
 
"I wanted to make an impact in a way that wasn't felt before. To remember me. I wanted them to remember athletically – but God's irony is showing there are many ways to contribute," said Scarlett, who took on the role as president of the FCA Chapter at USF.

"We have an incredible team of leaders that work tirelessly to continue to share Jesus Christ within sports. The biggest thing we always push within FCA is that here at USF it stands for 'Fellowship of Christ Anybody's' because we do not want to include athletes only," said a recharged Scarlett.

As things started coming together and he was back on the track and committing to service, Scarlett was blindsided by another devastating moment when his grandma passed away in February of his junior year. It shook him to his core. He had a lost a person special in his life.

"My faith was again tested. My grandma and I had developed an indescribable bond. When she passed – I did a lot of praying and soul-searching. I was so shook up. Then, I reflected on something she told me and that was to always be the example," said Scarlett.

"I remember my grandma saying to me I won't be there for your first sermon but I will hear you," said Scarlett, who promptly changed his major from pre-medicine to theology and Biblical studies. "Her words enabled me to decide on a future which would include a future of helping others through the word of God," he said.

In time the 22-year old Scarlett adjusted. This spring, Scarlett was named to the Academic All-NSIC team for the third time in the outdoor season and sixth overall, including indoor track and field. He had a solid end to this career by running on USF's 10^th place 4x100-meter relay at the 2019 NSIC Outdoor Championship and continued to be a leader not only on the track and field team but across campus. 
 
As his athletic career closed, Scarlett wasn't disappointed that he didn't win a conference title or earn an All-American honor.  He wasn't that freshman kid any longer that hoped to leave an impression with his prowess on the track. No, he had become fully-engaged (at USF) and was ready to take steps along a new path.
 
"I said coming into the season I was going to leave everything out there and have no regrets. I am completely at peace at what I have accomplished. I put out a lot of blood, sweat and tears but I am at peace with it all," said Scarlett, who also recognized the invaluable mentoring and support of USF faculty.

Now as he prepares to leave USF and move on, Scarlett is focused on helping young people find God and all the blessings that Christianity provides.

He does so with his eyes open while carrying the influence of his grandma and the spiritual guidance of the Lord. Plus, his parents and coaches and teammates will be sounding boards. He knows his USF experience has set him up to take advantage of the opportunity ahead. And, he does so with the hope and believe that he can impact city youth who need direction. He plans to share the word of God and his own story to lend aid and support to others.

Selfless leadership requires preparation, willingness, drive and a spirit that lifts people.

"Malcolm X said 'Education is the passport to the future for tomorrow belong to those who prepare for it today,'" said Scarlett. "That is how I will approach life as I begin a new chapter in a new place. Yes, it will be a bit scary but I am ready. I am prepared."