College is both a frightening and wonderful phase in one’s life. When you combine academics with sports, it may be a challenging yet fulfilling time. I wouldn’t change a thing about my time as a student-athlete. Despite the fact that they were not the simplest years of my life, they showed me a lot. These are the 10 things I learned with my experience as a student-athlete.
Time Management
You must learn how to manage your schedule if you want to succeed in school and in your sport. You have no choice but to be organized when you combine practice, commuting, volunteering, studying, and early morning routines. You won’t last very long if you aren’t disciplined.
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Don’t Be Afraid to Lose
The most significant lesson I gained in college athletics was that failure is a necessary part of the learning process. I learned how to win by failing miserably more than a few times. Athletes’ competitive nature kicks in when they underperform or lose, and then they are driven to be the greatest.
Commitment
When you accept a four-year deal to play for your league, you are technically signing a four-year contract. You owe it to your teammates, coaches, and yourself to strive for excellence in all you do.
Teamwork
It might be tricky to work and accomplish everything with your team. You learn to cooperate with individuals who are different from you and adjust to their differences in order to achieve common goals.
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Stay Positive
I discovered that no one wants to spend their time with a negative mindset all of the time, and it may be detrimental to a team. It is contagious when one individual has a cheerful attitude; it affects everybody. You will achieve far more if you trust in yourself and have a calm head.
Be Thankful
It is a blessing to be an athlete. We often take advantage of every opportunity and forget how fortunate we are to be student-athletes. Although being a student-athlete is difficult, you will learn a great deal and have opportunities that other students do not.
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Life Will Go On
On several occasions, I felt I wouldn’t be able to go another day. I did, and life continued. No matter how awful your day has been, tomorrow is another chance to make it better.
Make Time for Play
It’s critical to maintain as much normalcy as possible. When you have the chance to have a good time and try something new, take advantage of it!
Maintain Your Individuality
It’s easy to become lost in a mass and forget who you are. Never alter your personality to fit in or be the most popular. Those who challenge them are respected.
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Don’t Take it Too Seriously
Life is stressful enough as it is; learn to laugh at yourself and accept your losses. People will blow you up enough on the journey; be your strongest source of support and help those around you.
Those would be the lessons I hope my college players and athletes take away from the game. Winning is wonderful, but it is not the only aspect of sports. Without question, being an athlete has helped me become a better person. It taught me a lot, provided a great avenue for my competitive personality, helped me de-stress, and provided a fun incentive to keep healthy. I still work out every day and challenge myself on a more personal level, but I’m grateful for the things I acquired as an athlete. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I wouldn’t exchange for anything.
Never forget to make the most out of it!