I, like many others, started playing sports at a young age. Looking back on my experience, it seems like my whole life was consumed by sports. But with all that time spent at practices, games and other training, I have learned so much more about myself and success than could ever be taught.
1. I learned I am privileged.
Being an athlete might just be the most rewarding thing. It is one of the greatest privileges I have been given. To this day I am thankful that I was given the ability to play. Without this, I would of never been able to meet amazing teammates, great mentors, get to travel around the country, and have an activity that would keep me out of trouble. I was especially privileged that my parents could support me so that I could play club, go to extra camps, and participate in strength and conditioning. Their support didn't go unnoticed. I got the chance to continue to play my sport in college. As a little girl I never realized how much of a honor it is to get to play beyond high school (and to play with a scholarship). Being a collegiate athlete is an opportunity that not many people are given. Playing a sport for as long as I have is a privilege and it keeps me humble.
2. I learned that I hate losing, but there is always a lesson to be learned from a loss.
I don't think anyone like the feeling of losing, but when you play sports over your lifetime, you will lose a lot. I have learned that with every failure there is something to be learned. The lesson may not even relate to the game itself. After a hard loss, I have learned how to be more positive, be a better teammate, and work a heck of a lot harder. If my teammates and I didn't play a perfect game, then we obviously have room for improvement. I often correlate losing with going through a hard time in life. With that hard time there is a lesson supposed to be learned from it. Although the pain of losing sucks, losing is the only way we can grow and improve.
3. I learned how to get things done.
Playing a sport has taught me how to time manage. Having a tournament all weekend or a game or practice after school, there was no time to delay school work. Always being on the go has taught me not to procrastinate (or least how awful it is when you do). I have learned how to multitask and get things done under pressure. Being able to work under pressure has helped my game so much because when the score is 24-23 or when there is only a minute left on the clock, I am forced to perform at the best of my ability with an exponential amount of stress. And you know what, I get it done.
4. I learned that I might have to work 10 times harder than everyone else.
I wasn't the star athlete in my athletic career. I was good, just never the best. I always had to be working hard in order to fight for a starting position or at least keep my spot. This taught me that nothing in life is just given to you. You have to work for it. Although at times it was frustrating and didn't seem fair, I appreciate having to struggle to earn my spot in life. Because when you finally earn it, it is ever more gratifying.
5. I learned that I am stronger than I think.
I have been pushed to the breaking point both mentally and physically throughout my athletic career. But at the end of the day, I always survived. I doubted myself though. I didn't think I could ever run 3 basketball suicides in under a minute or come back from a difficult injury, but I did it. Our mind is the only thing that limits us. When you realize how tough you are mentally, you can do anything.
6. I learned that if I want it, I can get it.
There were times in my career where I couldn't sit on the bench one more second. The question was never "Why isn't coach giving me a chance?" The question was "What do I need to improve in order to be on that court?" or "What will make me a better player and teammate?" When you find the answers to those questions, that's when you get your butt into the gym. That's when you do a couple extra reps, get to the gym early and stay late to hone your skills. Go the extra mile. If you want to be successful, you have to work hard to get it. Do not every believe that you don't have a chance. You always do; you just might have to work a little for it.
7. I learned I can dedicate and commit myself to something.
When I'm tired of running sprints or can't get passed a certain drill, all I want to do is give up, walk away. But I don't. I stay and push through that pain and suffering because I made a commitment to my teammates, my coach, and myself. I didn't start playing a sport just so I could quit. I started playing because I wanted to be pushed and I wanted to win. I have learned that if I am going to start something, I am going to finish it.
8. I learned what it is like to sacrifice.
Participating in a sport taught me how to sacrifice. There were days when I just wanted to hang out with friends instead of go to practice or I just wanted to go to my winter dance but I had a tournament. In the moment I bet I was upset, but now looking back I am grateful. Without missing out on those things, I would never fully understand what it is to sacrifice your wants in order to do the right thing.
9. I learned how to appreciate something for the good and the bad.
Looking back on my athletic career, it had it's ups and downs. There were seasons I was loving every moment, winning national championships, making the best of friends, but then there were the seasons when I just wanted to give up the game all together. I have learned how to appreciate every coach that ever yelled at me, benched me, ran me till my legs (almost) fell off. I've learned to love every win and every loss. I have learned to appreciate the struggles and the strengths gained from it. Nothing in life will ever be all good, so you need to learn to appreciate the bad because great things come from the challenges.
Dedicating my life to sports hasn't always been easy. But looking back on it, I am thankful for all that playing a sport has taught me. I am thankful to my sport for teaching me so much about how tough I am, how to win and how to lose, and how to give it all to the game that I love.
