Audio version

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Perdita is a world champion in the 60m and 100m hurdles and a multiple medalist at the International Association of Athletics Federations world championships.

PHOTO: Roy Cox

ON EXPERIENCE

Perdita Felicien Freelance journalist

Perdita Felicien is a two-time Olympian, 10-time Canadian champion and world champion hurdler, who, upon retiring from international competition at age 33, has entered into a second career as a broadcaster, motivational speaker and writer. A graduate of Seneca's Broadcast Journalism Summer Institute, Perdita shares her insights on her mom, work ethic, reinventing yourself and whale watching.

When did you realize you had a passion for track and field? I stumbled into track, honestly. I was a reluctant athlete. I did it because my mom was raising my siblings and me by herself, working full-time, and it was nice to go to the track after school instead of home alone. Track became a passion when I was 19.I got an athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois, but I never thought of a future in it. My mom always talked about education, so that was all the focus.

You've had a full time career as an athlete for the first 24 years of your life, and now you've had to start fresh. Yes, you've got to reinvent yourself sometimes. Like in 2008,I fractured my foot and could not compete at the Beijing Olympics. I was devastated and feeling horrible. Then my agent called and said, “CBC wants you to come to Beijing and do commentary.” I never thought of doing that, but went because I knew what every athlete would be facing. Even though I had no experience, I told myself I'd work through it and kill it. I left Beijing obviously hurting and sad but also feeling, “I love the camera. I love interviewing. This is exhilarating.”

It's a great feeling when you find something you could be really good at. Yes, exactly. I felt that when track was done, this really could be a thing. It was in the back of my head, and I just held on to it. I didn't say anything to anybody. When I knew I was going to retire in 2013,I thought, “Okay, now is the time, let's go for it.” Then I entered Seneca.

What's the biggest change in you post-athletic life? Just a new freedom. There are no limits to where I can go or what I can do, how late I stay up or what I can eat, so I love that. I'm connecting with my family and friends a lot more. I'm doing a writing program through the University of Chicago, and I am working on a memoir, which is probably the most intimidating thing I've ever done. My whole life revolved around goals and that continues. I have a goal this year of doing something new every month. This month, I'm going whale watching, even though my friends think it's boring.

It takes a lot of courage to be a star athlete and start a new career. How did you develop your mental toughness? A lot of it is the way I was raised. My mom relied on us to be little adults, in a sense. You just did your share. My family was relying on me, and I was relying on them. So when I became an athlete, I already knew that you don't stop because you're tired. You only stop when you're done.

For other alumni trying to start a new or second career, what is the best piece of advice you would give them. You have to take a chance. It is so comfortable to play it safe and not go after something, because the goal seems too big. Think of the biggest dream that you can have, and then create small steps to get there. Every day check something off. The worst that could happen is someone says “no,” then you just go bust down the next door.

8 RED 2015