Gilas Pilipinas Women and Iona point guard Ella Fajardo is shattering the stereotype of the student-athlete as someone who doesn’t value their academics, recently graduating Cum Laude with her psychology degree at Iona University in the US.
Though the reputation of “jocks” in popular media, or maybe even in people’s consciousness, is that of a slacker that focuses solely on their sport, Fajardo has made sure to balance both sides of her college life.
For her, it’s an important aspect of her NCAA Division 1 basketball journey, taking full advantage of the educational opportunity of her chosen sport.
“The priority in my household has always been to study really hard and basketball has just been an instrument for me to do that freely. And even traveling here to the Philippines has been like just a God-given blessing, and I just want to be able to maximize everything that I do,” Fajardo told One Sports.
It’s not also like education was completely and inexplicably separated from her sport.
That is, Fajardo knows that there are important lessons that can be learned in the classroom that can also apply to basketball, and vice versa.
Being a captain with her team in Iona, her push to succeed academically has also translated into how she handles her relationship with teammates.
“The sport of basketball itself has taught me things outside of the classroom that I can apply to my life, like being a leader. Being able to communicate to 15 other girls on the team and the coach, and be like that mediator,” said Fajardo.
“It's very difficult, but I think in the long run when basketball is over, I can hopefully pour that into other people because that's what the sport does, it teaches you stuff outside of basketball,” she added.
Admittedly, Fajardo wasn’t the type of person to easily be on top of things academically.
But for the 22-year-old, it always paid off when she put her mind to it — especially with the support of her parents in both of her endeavors as a student and a basketball player.
“I'm gonna be completely honest, I'm not the type of person where you can give me a test and I’ll be good. Like I'm so bad at the multiple choice, I'm so bad at open-ended questions, but my mom has always implemented it in me, you know, whatever work you put in, that's what you're gonna get."
"Even kind of like in faith, like whatever you put your time into, wherever you sow your seeds, like that's what you're going to reap, you reap what you sow, basically,” she said.
“It's been a lot of hours in the court, it's been even more hours, you know, studying and all that. I wish I was just very smart as it is, but that's what life is, like nothing's going to be handed to you and that's exactly what basketball and, you know, staying in school teaches you. Nobody's going to hand it to you.”
Of course, not all athletes have the same mindset as Fajardo, and she also admits that sometimes the stereotypes do ring through.
As Fajardo sees things, it will be key to look inside of yourself and understand what life a student-athlete wants to live — especially once all is said and done.
Knowing that sports will never be forever for anyone, Fajardo said that it’s important to know what you want to achieve in life, especially outside of being an athlete. With opportunities limited in sports, she believes it’ll be helpful to have more options.
“I think it's really important to just sit down and kind of like write out your priorities. What do you want to do in the next, you know, not even 10 years, but like, even just the years that you were in college… That's why I have such a good relationship with Jesus, I sit down a lot and I just think about why am I here? Like, ask yourself these difficult questions, because like I said, basketball isn't forever, then what?” said Fajardo.
“I think the answer for me is to continue to try to help these children out and help pour out into the next generation. Because if you try to do things just day by day and go with the flow, all of a sudden, the four years go by so quick. And [then] it's like maybe I could have studied a little harder, maybe I could have joined a club or something, so that if basketball doesn't work out, you have friends to connect with."
"As much as I love basketball, basketball isn't necessarily, like, life-life, there are greater things to it, even in college."
At the end of it, Fajardo also finds a lot of overlap between her life as a student and her life as a basketball player.
Majoring in psychology, she believes that understanding how and why people act the way they do has helped her to be more empathetic and kind to people that she meets on the court. From her teammates to her foes, and her coaches, there is better connection thanks to what she’s learned in school.
“You learn a lot about the brain, mind, and behavior, and why people react the way that they do, and I think that it just helps me take a step back. It's not necessarily like reading someone's mind, but just understanding that everybody's going through something, and sometimes all it takes is just a one-on-one talk,” she said.
With loads of experience with different teams and different groups of girls, she believes that the type of mentality that her studies have been able to instill in her has been key to keeping relationships, not just with herself internally, but also with the people she works with.
For her, approaching things with the right mindset is what will lead them to the right direction — not just in wins, but also in relating to each other.
“I know the culture a lot in the Philippines, or even in the States, especially with 15 girls on the team, is you're inclined to gossip, but sometimes the best thing to do is just to talk to that person, and just be like, hey, how can I help you, or are you okay, like a simple question like that. I feel like everybody needs help, everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes,” said Fajardo.
“So I feel like that's what psychology helps you do, just understand, and formulate the situation better, instead of just assuming,” she added.
On a more personal note, Fajardo wishes that what she's able to accomplish inspires more student-athletes, including her two sisters Ava and Andi.
Both basketball players as well, Fajardo hopes to be a model of what they can do when they put their mind to it.
“In a way, it sets a standard for my sisters as well. It doesn't mean that you have to meet every single standard. They're different in their own ways, but hopefully I could show them that you can do both, and you can still have a fun time in college too,” said Fajardo.
Since graduating earlier this year, Fajardo has rejoined the national team and is currently with Gilas Women in Shenzhen, China, where the team is competing in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
Fajardo is among the few veterans left in a youth-laden Gilas team that is seeking to stay in Division A of the regional tournament.
She and the rest of the national team jump back into action on Wednesday, July 16, against Lebanon in a must-win game.