Tracey Johnston, mother to basketball star Dylan (QLD), always felt slightly hesitant about her son
embarking on an overseas journey to the States.
Now, Tracey shares that she feels more at ease with the whole situation, after returning from her
own trip to USA to discover the new life her son is going to be living.
“When I went to visit the facilities and where he was going to be staying, I felt more at ease, and so was Dylan,” she says.
“I asked him, ‘How do you feel? Do you still want to go through with everything? Because you don’t have to,’ and he said ‘No, I’m so excited.’ He’s just really focused.”
Tracey says she can see differences in his son already as a result of this new experience.
“He’s really come out of his shell a bit more. Dylan’s really shy, both my boys are, but he’s come out
of his shell a bit more. He’s starting to ask more questions where he used to let everyone else ask
the questions… He’s not afraid to ask anymore, so I’ve seen there’s a big change in him,” she says.
Tracey also shares that Dylan has formed a close relationship with his roommate, a foreign student also, from France.
“I think that’s a big thing for him rooming with someone from a totally different cultural background. I’m from New Zealand and I now live in Australia, and they’re sort of the same. Having met other students and people of different nationality and cultural background is a massive experience for him.”
“He can cook for him, and they can exchange recipes, it’s just so awesome,” she adds.
“I think he’s been really good, I spoke to him today. He said training is tough, but he’s loving it, the meals are generous, and he’s just in a good place,” she says.
We are so glad to hear about this positive experience!
NSR parents, do you LOVE hearing these kinds of awesome stories?!