"Student Athlete" will never come off my resume.

I take too much pride in it- in the person it made me and in the mentality it gave me.

Being an athlete takes a different kind of stamina and focus. One that has helped carry me through much of my life. To literally push everything else out of my mind, even for two hours at practice, made all the difference for me.

And then to go back to whatever it was that I needed to do; to put my time and attention back to previous assignments, activities, clubs and personal life- it took a lot. Especially on the collegiate level.

You must perform. For your coaches, for your teammates, for your family, friends and for yourself. And not just perform during playing time, but to also manage work, school, family, health, etc.

And no, "Student Athlete" will never come off my resume.

And though it busted my ass, for lack of better words, I would never trade a minute of it. Not the suicide sprints during a down pour, not the preseason training in 85 degree weather (that's about 95-100 degrees on turf) and not the pain endured through torn ligaments and inflamed growth plates in my ankles that nearly took me out for the rest of my senior year.

I wouldn't trade it or erase any of it. And when I think of how it has impacted me and continues to, I grab hold of the mindset and irreplaceable skills that athletic experiences have given me; that training under a coach and with a team has given me; that pushing my mind and body more than I could handle gave me.

Specifically, there are six specific skills and disciplines that come with being an athlete which make us stand out in the professional world and in life:

Athletes have:

1. Willingness to receive feedback and be vulnerable in order to change for the better of the team.

2. The ability to take a loss and turn it into fuel to succeed.

3. Emotional intelligence - reading people, knowing how/when to give feedback or criticism.

4. Motivation to always be better.

5. Adaptability. Going from winning to losing during a game... what is the game plan? We have seconds to react. It'd be the same in the work place, whether it be new people, obstacles, or changes to a plan.

6. Preparation, preparation, preparation.

So no, I will not take "Student Athlete" off my resume because of the incomparable memories, skills and disciplines that come along with that title; a title that I am proud to hold.