Despite her intensity and aggressiveness on the basketball court, senior women's basketball player Lillian Jahan has found her true self off the court. Her caring and compassionate side emerges when she has the opportunity to help people out, especially children.
 
Whether it's for friends, family, or complete strangers, the San Francisco, California, native finds the most joy in going out of her way to do something good for someone each day.
 
Her most memorable experience in giving back came the summer before her junior year. She was interning with the University of California, San Francisco Palliative Care team. Part of her responsibilities included communicating with patients and their family members about entire process.
 
"I worked very closely with a social worker and with patients and families at a time when they were very vulnerable," said Jahan. "Seeing how appreciative the recipients were and how much easier we made that time has definitely stuck with me."
 
On campus, Jahan is an active member Oberlin's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She enjoys the experience and views it as an opportunity for student-athletes to work hand-in-hand with the athletics department.
 
"The coolest thing I've been a part of with SAAC was when I was in charge of the student-athlete appreciation week last year. It was a great way to do fun things and help the department thank athletes for simply being athletes, something that doesn't always happen at a school like Oberlin."
 
This year Jahan has been selected to participate in the Branch Rickey Mentoring Program. The goal of the program is to match veteran NCAC athletic administrators and coaches with female and racial/ethnic minority students who aspire to careers in college athletics.
 
"Learning how to talk and interact with people to make things happen has been the most rewarding part so far."
 
In December she organized a successful basketball clinic with the local Boys and Girls Club. Previously, she and Branch Rickey mentor Senior Associate Director of Athletics Creg Jantz, worked together to host a wonderful Track or Treat event this past Halloween. (Read more about Track or Treat)
 
At the age of 14, Jahan began working as a student assistant at her synagogue in San Francisco, slowly working her way up from being in charge of snacks and scheduling every Sunday to teaching her own lessons to younger children.
 
Despite not having any concrete post-graduation plans, Jahan is sure it will all work out and will involve helping other people, specifically young people.
 
"I just love working with kids; it's so much fun. It gives you the option to be a kid again yourself, which is something I like. Maybe I'll become a teacher one day, who knows," said Jahan with a laugh.

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