For as long as I can remember, being an athlete has been a defining aspect of my life. When I began as a little girl, it felt a bit more like just running around because I had the extra energy to burn; but as I’ve gotten older and found my passion in the sports I participate in, I have learned more about myself and life in its entirety than I had every expected from being an athlete. The lessons and knowledge I have taken away, while proving to be especially valuable in my athletic career, extend far beyond the court and track. In particular, I am thankful to have had my love for the sport I play challenged.
Every athlete has had to prove their worth on the team at one time or another. These efforts may sometimes seem to go unnoticed or feel to never be good enough. These are the times when you try harder. Every bead of sweat shed in practice can bring you closer to your goal. The important thing to remember is that the hard work of you and your teammates d is for a common goal – success for the team. Every day you should show up ready to work harder than you did the day before, achieve more than you did before, but don’t get too caught up in what you feel you need to accomplish. This can put a heavy load of partially unnecessary pressure on your shoulders. I am not belittling the importance of setting personal goals for yourself, because it is extremely important. But things won’t always go your way; and when they don’t, remember the goals your team is striving for and set your sights on them as well. The rest will fall into place.
It is hard to know what to expect from practice each day. Naturally, there will be some days that are better or worse than others. Days that aren’t going well seem longer and harder – probably going to hurt a little more, too. That’s okay. It’s important to learn from the tough days. Rising above the days that hurt, the days that drag on forever, and the days where nothings seems to be going right makes a valuable athlete and teammate.
Facing adversity is inevitable. Whether it be the coach, teammates, schedule, or another issue entirely, always try to remember why you came to love the sport in the first place. Everyone feels like they want to quit at times. Whenever you feel like giving up, think back to what initially kindled your passion, and rely heavily on it. You didn’t come to love the sport because of a bad coach, trials with teammates, or an overwhelming schedule. You came to love the sport in spite of those things. You came to love the sport because you found yourself when you found the sport; because you crave the same adrenaline rush you felt when you made your first basket, finished your first race, scored your first goal, or caught your first touchdown pass.
Nothing can take away your passion unless you let it. Don’t let it. When you don’t feel good enough or have reached the peak of your frustration for one reason or another, remember that you pursued a collegiate athletic career for a reason: you love the sport you play. You have put in blood, sweat, and tears to get to where you are. You’ve sacrificed countless hours of free time to get just a fraction of a step closer to your goals. Determination is a quality that will follow you and benefit you for the rest of your life. With determination also comes patience. Everything won’t always be perfect. There will be bumps in the road and obstacles along the way. Use them to make you stronger. Overcome them. Lean on your passion for the sport to get you through. Don’t give up.
