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Sports

Adigun makes best of difficult situation

Sophomore fights battle with severe heart disease

by LOURDES CASTILLO
The Daily Cougar

UH hurdler/sprinter Seun Adigun will be the first to admit that being the first generation of her family to be born and raised in the United States isn't easy. The sophomore from Glenwood, Ill., has had to make several adjustments throughout her life. 

Adigun's extended family resides in Nigeria. Her parents were brought up in Nigeria as well, so a different cultural background is expected. 

"It is extremely difficult to be a first generation (American)," Adigun said. "I don't care where you're from. It is very difficult because most parents don't understand some things."

One such conflict that arose for Adigun and her parents was the issue of gender roles.

"We had these parent-child clashes as adolescents because the Nigerian culture is very male dominant," Adigun said. "It's either one extreme or the other. There is never an in-between."

Adigun's cultural clash was especially apparent as she was growing up and making important decisions, such as where to attend college. 

"The (Nigerian) culture doesn't allow their children to grow up," she said. "In Nigeria you can be 25 years old and they (parents) are still questioning you (about) what you will be doing with your life.

"Once you turn 18 here, (parents) are not asking you any more questions."

Understanding the two cultures and finding a middle ground has been the toughest challenge for Adigun. 

"I don't think I will truly feel the culture mixture until I have my own kids," she said. 

Although it was hard to adapt to life away from home, it was important for Adigun to prove to her parents that she was independent and strong enough to make it on her own. 

"I had never been too dependent on my parents and I wasn't too worried about it," Adigun said. "But there is always that possibility that something will go wrong.

Her choice of attending UH was not only influenced by the environment, campus activities and athletic programs. It was also a way to let her family know she would be okay despite being hundreds of miles away from home. 

"Being able to show them I will be fine, being able to go home and have my dad tell me that I can take care of my self was a huge goal of mine," she said.

As tough as Adigun might seem on the track, she faces a constant battle. In seventh grade, Adigun began experiencing severe health problems. Doctors couldn't come up with any answers, until a few years ago.

Aside from allergies, asthma and tendonitis on her knees, Adigun suffers from tachycardia, arrhythmia and extra tissues on her heart. Sometimes while practicing, she'll have to slow down because her blood circulation is poor. 

"It interferes with my training and it frustrates head coach (Leroy Burrell) too," Adigun says. "Then I think ‘Why am I running, why am I doing this sport?' I have to overcome that thought in my own mind all the time and not want to give up." 

Each year brings more trips to the hospital. In 1999, doctors performed surgery to remove some of the extra tissue attached to her heart. All the tissue couldn't be removed because of the proximity of the tissue to vital arteries, but she might have to go under the knife again if her situation worsens. 

"The condition is not life-threatening, but I guess with a mix of everything else it could become a life-threatening disease," Adigun said. "(Doctors) threaten my athletic career every year."

Because she never knows when it might be her last meet, Adigun always gives 110 percent effort in each race.

"That's the attitude I've always had about everything," she said.

Every time she thinks about quitting, Adigun thinks of the people who have encouraged her and who are proud of her career.

"What keeps me going is the people I have back home," she said. "I have so many people watching me and wanting me to do so well. I want to make my family feel proud and happy."

Adigun is currently majoring in kinesiology with a minor in psychology in order to become a health psychologist. She also plans to obtain masters and doctorate degrees to become a cardiologist.

"Health psychology seems like it's an upper rising field and by the time I'm done with my degree it's going to be in high demand," Adigun said. "I like talking to people and listening to their problems and I love sports."

Adigun currently works with All-N-One, an outreach program designed to organize events and programs for area youth.

"I work with kids between the ages of 11 and 18," she said. "I talk to them and listen to them a little bit about college and life. It helps me see how youngster's minds work."

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