LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — A former NBA player encouraged local students to prioritize their mental health while developing the life skills needed to achieve their goals during a seminar Monday afternoon.
Youth Connect 4 Mental Health hosted the session featuring former professional basketball player and coach Wesley Fluellen Sr. The motivational speaker discussed the importance of self-control, adaptability, discipline and gratitude while sharing his "fundamentals first" philosophy.
Fluellen said mastering the fundamentals is essential because they apply far beyond sports.
“Fundamentals are in everything, not just as a basketball player. Of course I needed them to be a professional athlete, but there's fundamentals in everything, in business, in education, in being a parent and being a student," said Coach Fluellen. "Fundamentals carry over in everything, and without the fundamentals, you can't enhance your skill or elevate yourself in life,” says Wesley Fluellen, Sr., former NBA Basketball Player/Motivational speaker.
Youth Connect 4 Mental Health hosted the session featuring former professional basketball player and coach Wesley Fluellen Sr.
The seminar was one of several mental health-focused events hosted by Youth Connect 4 Mental Health throughout the year. Organizers said the programs are designed to educate young people about available mental health resources while teaching practical skills to help them navigate everyday challenges.
"We understand that mental health is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment thing. We're connecting with young people every day," said Yvonne Jones. "We have sessions every month, and we do workshops twice a year. They do different workshops as far as social-emotional learning, trauma-informed, coping skills, and things they can really soak up in that amount of time and can help them,” says Yvonne Jones, Youth Connect 4 Mental Health.
The seminar was followed by a scholarship banquet, where Fluellen delivered the keynote address.
