Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
Dear Northwestern: Roy Dixon III
6/12/2023 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dear Northwestern,
Where do I begin? Should I tell of the wonderful people that flood the halls and athletic community? Should I tell of the world-class athletics I was so blessed to be a part of? Should I tell of the amazing faculty and professors that made my studies so rewarding? Or maybe I will talk about the endless opportunities Northwestern has to offer from academics to athletics, and everything in-between.
The truth is, I love Northwestern for every one of these reasons and so many more. I came to Northwestern as a young, wide-eyed boy that had no idea what to expect from college. As reflect on my journey now, I can proudly say that I leave Northwestern as a confident, well-rounded man. Well, how did I get from a boy to a man with such valuable qualities in just four short years? Northwestern is how.
Growing up, I always took pride in my studies and made sure to get great grades throughout high school. I thought that Northwestern would be just the same, a walk in the park. I was quickly humbled when I discovered that everyone here was smart like me and that I had to work harder and fight for great grades. This taught me so many intangible qualities such as hard work, communication, and resiliency. I was knocked down on the pavement academically, and thankfully the community around me helped me to get back on my feet and keep swinging. I was then able to make All-Academic Big Ten honors for my last three years and a host of other academic honors as well. I know this was the result of my hard work, faith, and the wonderful community that supported me.
One of the greatest things about Northwestern is its ability to morph and be able to support you in any way you choose to grow. During my sophomore year, I found myself in a panic as I did not know career-wise what I wanted to do with my life. Thankfully, I was able to get involved with the Kabiller NU For Life program which really furthered me in the area of professional development. It helped me network with great alumni and truly put me in position to pursue my chosen career path. I was also blessed to win the Kabiller Award and travel to Cambridge, UK for a financial conference. Coming into college, I never would have dreamed of such an amazing opportunity. However, as I sought to grow in the area of professional development, there Northwestern was to support me. I also began to value diversity, equity, and inclusion and worked to ensure an enjoyable community for all student-athletes. I was able to work alongside Maria Sanchez and be involved with various groups to focus on this. I am grateful for every one of the opportunities afforded by Northwestern, it truly helped shaped me into who I am today.
Lastly, I want to take the time to simply thank Northwestern. Thank you to Coach (Chris) Collins and Coach (Brian) James for giving me the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level of college athletics and treating me so well these past four years. Thank you to my teammates for welcoming me and making my experience so special, our friendship extends far beyond the 94 feet of hardwood floor. Thank you to my professors for pushing me academically and sharing your expertise in your respective fields. Thank you to my academic advisors, Eileen O'Rourke and Taylor Perkins, for helping me navigate the rigors of Northwestern and for all of your support. Thank you to the staff here at Northwestern. Whether it be sweeping the court to ensure we had the best conditions possible or making the best omelets every morning at Nona Jo's, you all make Northwestern run, and I am grateful for every one of you.
While my time here at Northwestern comes to an end, I have relationships, experiences, and opportunities that I will cherish for a lifetime. As the former athletic director, Jim Phillips used to say, "The N never comes off." I am proud to be a Northwestern alumnus and hopefully represent the university well for the rest of my days.
Go 'Cats!
Sincerely,
Roy Dixon III
Economics
Northwestern Men's Basketball, Class of 2023
Where do I begin? Should I tell of the wonderful people that flood the halls and athletic community? Should I tell of the world-class athletics I was so blessed to be a part of? Should I tell of the amazing faculty and professors that made my studies so rewarding? Or maybe I will talk about the endless opportunities Northwestern has to offer from academics to athletics, and everything in-between.
The truth is, I love Northwestern for every one of these reasons and so many more. I came to Northwestern as a young, wide-eyed boy that had no idea what to expect from college. As reflect on my journey now, I can proudly say that I leave Northwestern as a confident, well-rounded man. Well, how did I get from a boy to a man with such valuable qualities in just four short years? Northwestern is how.
Growing up, I always took pride in my studies and made sure to get great grades throughout high school. I thought that Northwestern would be just the same, a walk in the park. I was quickly humbled when I discovered that everyone here was smart like me and that I had to work harder and fight for great grades. This taught me so many intangible qualities such as hard work, communication, and resiliency. I was knocked down on the pavement academically, and thankfully the community around me helped me to get back on my feet and keep swinging. I was then able to make All-Academic Big Ten honors for my last three years and a host of other academic honors as well. I know this was the result of my hard work, faith, and the wonderful community that supported me.
My fondest memories here at Northwestern undoubtedly come from my experiences on the basketball team. I could take you on a trip with me down memory lane, all the way back to the summer before my freshman year. The basketball team took a foreign trip to France and Italy. I reminisce about taking gondola rides near the Eiffel Tower and perusing the beautiful streets of Lake Como. Just as an aside, the pizza in Rome is even better than advertised! I could talk about how the basketball team accepted me with open arms and how these teammates of mine quickly became brothers for life. Or I could tell how the team projected to finish second to last in the Big Ten beat the number one team in the country on our home floor. I can vividly remember the rush and excitement all throughout the game and being so overcome with joy as that final buzzer went off and the 'cats were on top. Now this historically great season we had my senior year did not come at any easy price. It took a lot of hard lessons, banding together as brothers and fighting through adversity together, and many days of intense practices to finally triumph this last season. I am so grateful for the not-so-great times we had as a basketball team because they made the successes of my senior year so much more meaningful and worthwhile.There is nobody that embodies #PoundTheRock more ?? @rd3_rd3 is on scholarship!#GoCats | @NU_Sports pic.twitter.com/elLjQ1cdsw
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) July 29, 2022
These guys mean everything to our program ??@booboo_buie@ChaseAudige@rob_beran@rd3_rd3@TydusJ pic.twitter.com/9MzmiDerIU
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 2, 2023
One of the greatest things about Northwestern is its ability to morph and be able to support you in any way you choose to grow. During my sophomore year, I found myself in a panic as I did not know career-wise what I wanted to do with my life. Thankfully, I was able to get involved with the Kabiller NU For Life program which really furthered me in the area of professional development. It helped me network with great alumni and truly put me in position to pursue my chosen career path. I was also blessed to win the Kabiller Award and travel to Cambridge, UK for a financial conference. Coming into college, I never would have dreamed of such an amazing opportunity. However, as I sought to grow in the area of professional development, there Northwestern was to support me. I also began to value diversity, equity, and inclusion and worked to ensure an enjoyable community for all student-athletes. I was able to work alongside Maria Sanchez and be involved with various groups to focus on this. I am grateful for every one of the opportunities afforded by Northwestern, it truly helped shaped me into who I am today.
Roy Dixon III, Men's Basketball, Finance/Financial Literacy pic.twitter.com/s6NULyiMMJ
— David G. Kabiller NU for Life Program (@NUforLife) October 17, 2021
Lastly, I want to take the time to simply thank Northwestern. Thank you to Coach (Chris) Collins and Coach (Brian) James for giving me the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level of college athletics and treating me so well these past four years. Thank you to my teammates for welcoming me and making my experience so special, our friendship extends far beyond the 94 feet of hardwood floor. Thank you to my professors for pushing me academically and sharing your expertise in your respective fields. Thank you to my academic advisors, Eileen O'Rourke and Taylor Perkins, for helping me navigate the rigors of Northwestern and for all of your support. Thank you to the staff here at Northwestern. Whether it be sweeping the court to ensure we had the best conditions possible or making the best omelets every morning at Nona Jo's, you all make Northwestern run, and I am grateful for every one of you.
From Atlanta, Ga. ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 1, 2023
Everything the program is about, @rd3_rd3. pic.twitter.com/3KDz5BFYmX
While my time here at Northwestern comes to an end, I have relationships, experiences, and opportunities that I will cherish for a lifetime. As the former athletic director, Jim Phillips used to say, "The N never comes off." I am proud to be a Northwestern alumnus and hopefully represent the university well for the rest of my days.
Go 'Cats!
Sincerely,
Roy Dixon III
Economics
Northwestern Men's Basketball, Class of 2023
Players Mentioned
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