Local athlete, executive shares her personal “Top 10 Choices”
“You don’t win an Olympic Gold Medal or become a CEO of a company, or even get an engineering degree without making a lot of really good choices along the way,” says Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley. “It may not seem like the choices you make today mean anything, [because] you’re only in eighth grade… but they do make a difference later in life.”
When local celebrity (and Gar-Field High School graduate) Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley came to Beville Middle School to talk to eighth graders about the importance of education, she didn’t just lecture the students about improving their grades and going to college. Mosley talked about choices, explaining how the decisions students make about their lives – even those made in middle school – can determine the options that will become available to them in the future.
Her choice to pursue track and field seemed difficult when she was starting out, Mosley told the students, but ultimately allowed her to taste success. “Even though all my friends were doing gymnastics, I decided to follow my coach’s advice and run track,” says Mosley. “You’ve got to follow your own path.”
Mosley became a star track and field athlete, and the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles. She is a three-time Olympian, a Pan American Games gold medalist, an eight-time national champion, and a 15-time All-American.
Mosley also talked about the importance of planning for unexpected changes down the road. She said that the true value of education hits home for athletes once they 
retire from the field. After hanging up her running shoes, Mosley combined her athletic know-how with her engineering education and landed a series of successful jobs including a position with the United States Olympic Committee . Today Mosley is President and CEO of the Chantilly-based association Women in Cable Telecommunications.
“I found my passion after I finished running track,” says Mosley. “I ended up finding my passion working with other people.”
Mosley shared her “Top 10 Choices” with Beville Middle School, intimating that the secret to success lies in following these steps to do what’s best for oneself. As she read over the list, she talked about the choices she had made in her own life, and how each one made a difference in helping her reach where she is today.
Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley’s List of Top Ten Choices
- Choose to have faith
- Choose to dream big
- Choose to run your own race
- Choose to avoid illicit behaviors
- Choose to get the best education that’s available
- Choose to follow your passion
- Choose to get out of your comfort zone
- Choose the right friends
- Choose to set and stick to your own priorities
- Choose to take calculated risks
Visit Beville Middle School's Web site.
5/8/06
