Tammer Farid of Baruch College understands that proper preparation is the key to success. The CUNY Athletic Conference/Hospital for Special Surgery Scholar-Athlete of the Month of November practices in order to succeed when it matters most.
“Doing homework is just practice, so you know what you are doing when you are tested,” Farid believes. “Preparation is more than half the battle.”
This training has allowed the junior from Woodside, Queens, to earn a 3.74 grade point average as he majors in marketing, with a minor in psychology. It also helps him on the basketball court, as he averaged 16 points per game during the month of November, leading the Bearcats to a 3-1 record to start the season.
“I need to schedule accordingly,” Farid confides, referring to a practice he learned while at Stuyvesant High School. “I need to focus and get my school work done in advance.”
Farid understands that academics is the reason he is at Baruch. He plans on using his marketing degree to found his own business, with plans on being an entrepreneur. But he knows that he must excel.
With the support of his family, he understands competition. His older brother, Walid, was a Preseason Honorable Mention All-American for Stevens Tech in 2007-08. Walid serves as a good example of what he strives for, and relishes the family competition.
On the court, his teammates look to Tammer as a leader, so it was no surprise that he is one of two team captains. He understands his role as a shooter and scorer, knowing that he must produce. This is not new to him, as he led the team in scoring a year ago as a sophomore as the Bearcats were regionally ranked throughout the season and earned a coveted at-large berth into the NCAA Championships.
He is well on his way to leaving his own legacy at Baruch, as he is nearing the school record for three-pointers made, and is rapidly approaching the 1,000 point plateau.
As Farid works hard, there is little doubt that he’ll succeed. But he will do so only through his preparation.