Against odds MSCTC student becomes a leader

Chris Doege

Published Saturday, September 6, 2008

Most people around the MSCTC campus in Fergus Falls know Demetrius Wooden as a charismatic student athlete and president of the student ambassadors. However, things haven’t always been great for Demetrius.

Demetrius Wooden was born in Kansas City, Mo. on July 11,1987, but moved to Douglasville, Ga. when he was four years old. Due to a low income family life and an abusive alcoholic father, he was forced to move in and out of homeless shelters. Through his entire academic career Demetrius was on the move attending four different elementary schools, three different middle schools, and five different high school.

Demetrius’ high school career was full of hardships. Because he was constantly moving around, he was never able to make a strong core of friends. When he did make friends, he tended to be in with the wrong crowd. Demetrius was getting in fights at school and at home. Then in his senior year, his families house went up for foreclosure and he moved into a family friends house in Kansas City. Demetrius moved in with Pastor Todd Brown. Pastor Brown helped guide Demetrius through his senior year. Enevidably, Demetrius got back on track and graduated from high school and moved back to Douglasville.

In the fall of 2007, Demetrius decided to come to Fergus Falls and attend MSCTC after a conversation with Spartan baseball head coach Kent Bothwell. Demetrius said that he liked Coach Bothwell’s personality and that he felt like he could succeed playing college baseball. When Demetrius got to MSCTC he was broke. He had no money to pay for food, housing, or any basic essentials that all college students need. After struggling and mooching off of his roommates for a month he finally received his financial aid.

During the first few months at MSCTC, Demetrius butted heads with his white roommates. Being from Georgia, he was not used to being around white people. Being the only black person in his apartment as well as the baseball team was a tough transition to make. He was also struggling academically. On his first grade check, Demetrius had 3 F’s, 2 D’s, and 1 C. He wasn’t attending class on a regular basis and was in danger of being academically ineligible for baseball. On October 27, 2007 he hit rock bottom. Demetrius and seven of his closest friends were caught with drugs and alcohol in the student housing. Demetrius then had to go in front of the dean and plead his case on why he should be allowed to attend MSCTC. He was allowed to return to school and said, “After the problem with the dean, I decided to really buckle down with my studies.” The run in with the dean became truly a blessing in disguise.

After the ordeal, Demetrius decided to work first and play later. He worked hard in his classes and came up academically eligible on the last week of school in the fall semester.

In March of 2008 Demetrius was approached by a couple of fellow students who encouraged him to join College Ambassadors. He liked helping out the group and in May of 2008, Demetrius was elected College Ambassador President. He also joined the Spartan football team as a defensive back and kick returner. After his time at Fergus Falls, Demetrius plans to attend San Diego State to enroll in their broadcast program.

When I asked Demetrius about what he took from all the controversies that he’s been involved with and his trouble as home, he told me one thing.

He said, “Never give up on yourself, live life, and take advantage of opportunities.”.

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