Generations of Impact
From Marie-Hélène to Amelia

 

Amélia Sow is living the dream! The female basketball player from Quebec participate currently at Stephen Curry's summer camp, NBA superstar, a first for a Canadian player. A new feat on an already overflowing resumee the accompanied adolescent by his family, on this journey as in his path. 

The topic is in the air: cHow to accompany well their child in the pursuit of their sporting ambitions? GTour guide, orient, listen, support, motivate. A game of fragile, precarious balance. Meeting a mother-daughter duo who humbly propose, her vision of a relationship Health marked by sport. 

Generations of impact. The theme of our philanthropic campaign, embodied here by Marie-Hélène Pedneau, stock market Aléo from 1999 to 2001, and his daughter Amelia Sow, she also an Aléo scholarship holder in basketball, in 2024. More than 20 years after her mom. Supported by our partner Planète Mobile.

By François-Olivier Roberge

Late July, pleasant warmth in the backyard of the Pedneau-Audet-Sow multigenerational home. That morning, as if to guide this interview, an article in The Sun From the Quebec Games. «Quebec Games overshadowed by a few toxic parents.» Some parents lose it and clumsily—that's putting it mildly—coach their children when it comes to sports and performance. Still. Unfortunately.

Right away, a question arises for the athlete mom to launch our discussion: how do you guide your children? Is it still possible today to motivate your child and even to push them in a healthy way to seek their full potential in sports?

«Sam and I, we think so. Yes, our standards are high. We don't hide it. But we always check with her. Is this what you want to do? For you and not for us? And if the answer is yes, we go for it!» explains Marie-Hélène, talking about their relationship with her partner. Samuel Audet-Sow and their older daughter. Amelia's parents both had brilliant sports careers and are well-known figures at the basketball court in the Quebec City region.

For Marie-Hélène, now a research center coordinator at Université Laval, a natural way for her and her partner to «push» their children, Amélia (16) and Ismaël (14), is to train with them. « I'm not there to say: go run, go throw balls, but we do it with them. Weight training. Jogging. Gym practice. It's easier to motivate them when you lead by example,» she explains, aware that this recipe is neither magical nor applicable to everyone.

A star is born

When she was younger, Amélia participated in ballet, gymnastics, and soccer, among other activities. Then, her heart leaned towards basketball, possibly influenced by her parents' example, but she was never forced. It's a choice that's working out wonderfully for her.

The one currently located at 28^e ranked on the prestigious ESPN list (ranking the best players her age in America) is already receiving dozens of offers from American universities who would like her to wear their colors starting in the fall of 2027. Is the list long? «Yes... more than sixty already,» even though the student-athlete has just finished her 4^e secondary school at Séminaire St-François, in Quebec City.

For several years now, the 6'1" player has been racking up airline miles like a businesswoman who almost casually flashes her NEXUS card when crossing customs.

In June alone, she was named MVP at the prestigious FIBA and NBA Basketball Without Borders camp in El Salvador. She participated in tournaments with the B.1.C.E. team, which features several Canadian hopefuls, in Indianapolis and then in Pennsylvania, and took part in the Team Canada camp. All of this was in the midst of her final exams.

The goal: experience and visibility with NCAA coaches who pay to attend these tournaments. Amelia has been participating for 3 years already.

Two generations of scholarship students
Two realities

«This is a new world for us, too,» the mom clarifies. "We're supporting him through this, and the watchword is his well-being, in all areas of his life. Who better placed than his parents to ensure that his well-being and interests come first!?"

How does Amélia perceive her parents« role in her basketball world? ‘My father is more the ‘coach’ off the court games and teams. We run together, we're in the gym together. Mom, since she's an assistant on the bench, we do everything together. We travel together, we eat together at tournaments. Both are there for me, in different ways.» Together, complementary.

At the time of this interview, the present objective was clear: rest. Two weeks to think about something other than the ball and training. For his body, certainly, but for his mind too, especially.

Today, August 14, she experiences a new first and rubs shoulders with Stephen Curry, undoubtedly one of the greatest basketball players in history. Only 10 girls and 10 boys were selected for this 3-day camp. «That, that's really cool! It's not an opportunity that comes around every days», calmly comments Amélia. The family take the opportunity to visit and also to experience the moment through the eyes of their teenage daughter. 

To experience this moment, a first for a Canadian player, Amelia had to withdraw from the Quebec team currently participating in the Canada Games in Newfoundland. A difficult dilemma for someone who didn't want to abandon her teammates and friends.

Difficult choices, the guard will have several in the coming years. Starting with the one she recently made to leave the SSF to complete her secondary education and her 12th grade.^e year in Ontario. The transfer was made official by the «Amelia Sow Committed» prominently displayed on the social media of Fort Erie International Academy, a marker of the times.

She will go there at the beginning of September, far from her parents and her loved ones. Over 900 km from home, and, literally, a stone's throw from the American border. A sure sign. Her mom promises she will visit often. Perhaps even help as a coach, as she already did with Amélia's team at SSF, alongside head coach David Levasseur.

Then in the spring, American universities will officially have the right to welcome her to show her around and try to charm her. The rules are very strict, and for now, she can only be contacted during certain periods, but does not have the right to pay an official visit.

What are the key elements she'll be looking for there? «A playing style that fits with mine. The campus, the program's history, and getting playing time as soon as I arrive. Those are decisions I'll make once I get there.» The academic side will also be crucially important. «I don't want to spend 4 years just playing basketball. I want to graduate with a degree that's recognized worldwide.»

The question of what she would eventually do with that diploma was not addressed. Let's remember that Amelia is still in high school! Step by step. And among all the qualities she's currently developing, her sense of leadership seems to be at the top. A leader, influenced by leaders. A quality that will stay with her throughout her life and allow her to have a concrete impact on her community.

Step by step. Well supported. Loved. Amelia continues on her path with the confidence of a teenager who knows she has what it takes to succeed and who wants to take her destiny into her own hands.

(Photo credit Instagram Basketballwithoutborders)

Sophie's words                                                                                            

Did you know that in sports psychology, we talk athletic identity?

By Sophie Brassard, PhD 
Guidance Counselor – Head of Services for student-athletes 

Conceptualized by Brewer et al. (1993), athletic identity is defined as the degree of identification with the athlete role and the degree of exclusivity an individual gives to that role. Strongly identifying as an athlete is not harmful; on the contrary, it can even help progress through the levels! However, particular attention must be paid to the second part of the definition: the degree of exclusivity.

The danger is to identify solely with one's role as an athlete. The more successful and recognized a person is as an athlete, for example, by being in the media, the more difficult it can be for that person to define themselves outside of sports. The role of parents is very important here. Being able to talk about things other than sports, taking an interest in other aspects of your child's life, helping them develop as a person first and foremost.

Although they may feel supported, several athletes may be afraid of disappointing their parents when making certain decisions or fear losing value in the eyes of their loved ones if they don't pursue a high-level career.

The so it is important, as demonstrated bynt Marie-Hélène and Samuel for ImproveA, that the young person feels the interest German his parents for the other spheres of their life. This will also help them in their professional development and career choices. This is precisely why we offer this service at the Ffoundation Hello! Stock market and a lifelong stock market investor!