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For many athletes, the end of a season can feel like stepping off a moving train: suddenly, the structure, energy, and identity that came with competition are gone. And with it comes a myriad of emotions, including relief, pride, disappointment, or depression.

In this second half, the Allens go deeper—sharing how they navigate their son’s emotional ups and downs, the importance of mental fitness in performance, and how they keep family values front and center amid the pursuit of athletic excellence.

In Part One of this two-part series, NSAWMF Co-Founder and Chief Sports Psychologist Dr. Jei Pearcey sits down with Jesse and Shavonne Allen—the parents of an elite high school basketball player from Corona, California—to explore what it really takes to raise an athlete in today’s high-pressure world of competition, injuries, and social media.