The 2020 Rams Reflect is the fifth in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of Suffolk teams have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Suffolk.
For a complete listing of past and present Rams’ Reflections, click here.
Jonathan Eng | Hometown: Wayland, Mass. | Business / Sports Management
Looking back at when I first visited Suffolk, the new Men’s Basketball coach, Jeff Juron, brought me into his office letting me know he was going to offer me a spot on the team, but that it wasn’t guaranteed and that I’d have to earn that spot. It was the best I had heard from a coach so far, so I figured I’d take it to fulfill my love for basketball.
This was the best decision I’ve ever made thus far. I have never been happier to be part of the Ram family. Not only has this four-year journey been focused on improving my skills within the realm of basketball, but it has taught me lessons that I will apply in my life after college. Being part of a team and being able to learn from the good and bad has improved time management, leadership skills, communication skills, accountability, and patience.
This whole season has been a story that I will never forget with this group of guys. I’ve have never been a part of a team that has had to face so much adversity and still be able to have a great season. Having to travel every night for practice for two months (felt like the entire season), gave us the opportunity to improve any weaknesses we had as a team; whether that be chemistry or road readiness. By the time we got our court back we felt like we could take down the entire world and that’s a feeling I’ll never forget. This was a resilient group of guys and I’m so grateful for it all.
Advice for any incoming freshman: don’t take this for granted. Make sure you finish your four years with no regrets because before you know it, you’ll be writing this Ram reflection to other incoming freshmen. Time goes by so fast and you don’t want to miss a second of it.
What does it mean to me to be a Ram? I tried to embody maturity, friendliness and respectfulness everywhere I went. My coach really put an emphasis on making sure we represent Suffolk basketball properly. Being mature, friendly, and respectful hold it all and if you can carry that with you, I think that’s what it means to be a Ram. We have to show our maturity and show that we’re not just here for athletics, but more importantly, we’re here to get an education and a degree in whatever field interests us. We have to be friendly to all members of the Suffolk community and introduce ourselves with open arms letting them know that we’re more than a basketball team. Lastly, we must respect each other. Make the most with everyone you meet, you never know what opportunities may present themselves.