Ask an Athlete: Hassani St. John, Track & Field

Hassani St. John is an international track and field athlete hailing from Trinidad and Tobago. 

Beyond track and field, St. John was recently elected as a senator for the student association, where he represents the voices and needs of his fellow students.

This question and answer was conducted with Hassani over text on April 23.

Question: Coming from Trinidad and Tobago, what’s been your favorite part of SUNY Plattsburgh so far?

Answer:  Coming from the sweet twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, my favorite part of traveling to the other side of the world has been the people I’ve met. Learning about their backgrounds and cultures has been eye-opening.

It’s crazy how individuals from opposite ends of the world can form such genuine connections. Who would’ve thought I’d be in the same circle as a Dutch rugby player and a Swedish basketball player?

Q: What kind of challenges have you faced as an international student-athlete?

A: As an international student, I faced several major challenges, including the cultural shift, climate change, and new living conditions. The cultural shift—adjusting to the norms and customs here was particularly noticeable. For instance, walking into a restaurant where you place your order through a computer instead of a server was definitely new to me. Speaking of food, the on-campus options took some getting used to—you could say they’re more of an acquired taste. 

The weather was another shock; it left my skin as pale as the snow. And sharing a room with someone brought its own lessons—learning to compromise and adapt was part of the experience.

Q: Why did you decide to run for senator of the SA? What kind of changes do you hope to make during your time?

A: I decided to run for senator because, after being in the system for a semester and a half, I realized how impactful student leadership can be. It’s a great feeling to have a say in campus life and to be a voice for students. It’s important to me that all demographics and perspectives are represented and heard.

Q: How does training here at Plattsburgh compare to training back home?

A: Training here has definitely been interesting. Back home, our workouts focused more on long, lactic sessions. But here, the emphasis is on speed—after all, they say speed pays the bills. Putting on spikes in the third week of training was mind-boggling to me, but the progression has been clear. 

I also really appreciate my teammates—they make training more enjoyable and create a sense of shared experience that keeps me motivated.