As human beings, we tend to think of teachers as those who work in schools. We also tend to think of education as the knowledge we acquire in a classroom. This is true if you’re looking at the Webster Dictionary definition. But, if I think about the best teacher I know, and the best education I’ve received, my answer doesn’t follow the ordinary: sports.
They say good teachers can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning. Sports far exceed these requirements and do so in the most unconventional, extraordinary and meaningful way.
The curriculum is experience, and the classroom is the real world. I have been playing sports for almost 20 years, and I am undeniably confident when I say that sports have taught me more about life than anyone or anything.
When I began to think about what exactly I have learned from playing sports, I realized that the list was seemingly endless. With that being said, I think that every athlete would agree that teamwork, leadership, balance, work ethic, the importance of a positive attitude and being selfless, are some of the most important things and lessons that we’ve taken, and continue to take with us on this crazy adventure we call life.
Teamwork:
Being a good teammate is one of the greatest things you can be. You learn to be humble when given opportunity because you may be given more playing time than the kid beside you. You learn when to speak up and when to listen. You learn the value of cheering others on and genuinely wishing them the best, even if you’re fighting for the same position. The ability to work with others is so crucial in the real world, and sports teaches this to us every day.
Leadership:
Whether you have a C or an A sewn onto your jersey, sports teaches you how to be a leader in more ways than one. You can be a vocal leader, a leader by example, or simply a member of a team who steps up when need be. Being a leader on a team doesn’t require textbook execution or a formula; it means knowing and accepting your role, whatever it may be, and doing the best you can so that others can follow. We need more leaders in the world, and playing sports develops these qualities every day.
Balance:
In the “real world,” people talk about time and schedule management, balancing work and play and priority maintenance. Athletes are the best examples of how to balance the most hectic and chaotic lifestyles while competing every day in the classroom and at the arena. Sports teach you how to balance a million things and do so with ease. Just ask an athlete to explain a “day in their shoes,” and you will know what I’m talking about.
Work ethic:
Athletes are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet, and the sports world fosters this trait more so than anything else. Whether you’re working to achieve a personal record, or working to win a National Championship, the work comes before the success. Every athlete knows that you can only control two things- effort and attitude. This work ethic carries over to the real world, because we know that the only way to reach success, break records, and increase the odds of being the best, is to first work- when your teammates are watching, and when they aren’t.
The importance of a positive attitude:
Adversity is a huge of the parts of the sports world. Getting cut from a team because of politics, getting injured and not being able to play or losing your spot in the lineup when at that given time, someone else is more fit for the role, are all part of the game. Whatever the adversity and however it presents itself, sports teach us to bounce back and do so with a positive attitude. Even if your confidence is at an all-time low and things aren’t going your way, being able to smile amidst the storm is one of the hardest things to do. Yet, it is a necessary requirement of being an athlete. Because at the end of the day, it’s just a game, and you are lucky to be playing the sport you love every day. So when you come across a bad boss or a lousy co-worker, know that sports have taught you that no matter what, you must smile, love the journey and stay positive.
Being selfless:
Perhaps this is the most relevant lesson that you learn through sports because it creates character and defines the person you are. Being selfless means giving something to someone with the expectation of nothing in return. Being a good teammate, giving your best effort to your coach despite how tired you are, having a positive attitude even if you’re faced with adversity and cheering on your teammates even if you’re battling for that same spot, are all part of being selfless. You learn to do things for the better of the team even if it means sacrificing personal success.
Being a good person, at the end of the day, is the best things that sports teaches us, because when we walk out of the arena and into the real world, we cannot take our jersey with us, nor the goals we scored, but we can take with us the lessons that sports have given us.
The world is a blank slate composed of an abundance of opportunities, lively adventures, surprises at every bend and obstacles that can make or break people. Sports teach us how to make the best of all of these things and create a life that is filled with happiness, success, and endless possibilities.
