Terrence Parker "A Paradise To All"

--Hakiym Colon--MCOM 256

     To be a student athlete the requirements are not just of a skill in a particular sport, but attributes or personality traits you have that make you great at what you do and great in who you become. Terrence Parker showed us and many others the difficulties of hardship and the encouragement we needed to motivate and touch the hearts of many students and faculty across the SUNY Oneonta community.  He was an inspiration to his friends and family and a calling from up above that was way to soon.

Terrence Parker

     Terrence Emanuel Parker passed away September 8th, 2014 after falling into a week long coma. The next day after students gathered in the quad in his remembrance and shared their never forgetting encounters with Terrence. SUNY Oneonta senior Joel Bruno recalled one of his experiences with Terrence and explained "One day, Terrence and i were running in the gym and i was tired. I asked him how he could keep going and he replied, "when I was 14, my father lost his legs and from that day I told myself  I'm going to run until i cant anymore." This showed the kind of character Terrence was and no matter what, he never gave up in anything he did and always encouraged others to keep on fighting when there was nothing left. His positive attitude is what made him so special and so widely known around campus.

   
     Not only was he a leader outside the community, but also on the basketball court. Terrence played most of his college years for the Oneonta basketball team and was a key player on the team. In his three years of college ball he played 64 games and scored 208 points. Even after his last year of eligibility he offered up his spot so that the younger kids can get an opportunity to play. This showed his unselfishness and care for others he possessed. He loved to see people succeed and accomplish in life more than himself. He was the type of guy who put others first.

Terrence Parker Performance

     Not only was Terrence Parker a motivator and great athlete. He possessed many other talents such as his love for music. He organized and formed a rap group called the committee in which he expressed his positive vibes and attitude through his lyrics. His stage name was "Paradise T". A college Alumni Lucner Frederique spoke on Terrence's musical talents and explained "He had such great passion and love for music that just doing music was his own paradise and a way to escape from the real world." One of his motto's was "whats your escape?" Terrance Parker has a sound cloud and one of his songs that is most recognized is "freshman year."
https://soundcloud.com/user3882856/tracks

     Terrence Parker will forever be remembered not for his basketball talents or music career, but for the type of person he was and his character. His positiveness and encouragement will forever be passed on and an annual basketball tournament will always be held every year in his name. This tournament was formed and arranged by a group of students who were close to Terrance and with some help from faculty arranged a scholarship and event in his name. The first tournament was won be Team Paradise which represented a group of guys who knew Terrence or were connected in some way. Come down to this event April 10th to remember and celebrate a life that touched many in different ways and cheer the defending champs "Paradise T."