A Texas Track Athlete’s Sci-Fi Novel Explores Mental Health

For Texas high jumper Osawese Agbonkonkon, the life of a student-athlete isn’t just about balancing practice and classes; it’s also about finding time to write a 300-page science fiction novel. Agbonkonkon’s book, “Psychic Suit,” which he started in high school and recently published, evolved alongside his own journey as a young adult and college athlete. The novel now delves into mature themes, with a particular focus on mental health.

Agbonkonkon’s writing process was a testament to his discipline as a student-athlete. He would write whenever he found a free moment—at the airport, on planes, in hotel rooms, and even in the middle of the night when inspiration struck. He says the book grew with him, reflecting who he became during his time in college. A significant part of this personal growth was his understanding of mental health, a topic he wove into his characters’ struggles.

He made the main characters in his novel prominent public figures to show that mental illness is a universal experience and not a source of shame. He drew a parallel to the student-athlete experience, where there’s an intense pressure to be at 100% all the time—in practice, in competition, and in the classroom. He wanted his book to send a message that it’s okay to not be perfect all the time.

The pressure to perform in high jump, a feeling he put on himself, taught him how to confront his fears. He wrote down his worries and realized that even if he failed, the consequences were not as bad as he imagined. This process of facing his fears on paper helped him become more comfortable with the possibility of failure in real life.

Agbonkonkon credits his experience as a student-athlete for giving him the discipline to finish his novel. He believes that the skills he has developed—such as performing on the track and in the classroom—have prepared him to be a well-rounded individual. With a degree in economics and minors in history and English, and plans for a potential second book and law school, he is ready to take his skills and knowledge as far as he can.