We all envision ourselves doing certain things, achieving the goals we set for ourselves. We take certain steps to get there, steps we believe are necessary to be successful. And then BAM! A roadblock! We get frustrated with ourselves for not preparing for it. Even worse, we get so mad at ourselves that we forget about all the progress we made up to that point. We don’t give ourselves enough credit for the effort we put in and for the milestones we did meet. We focus so much on the mistakes and the failures. My plan for 2018 has been to refrain from this mindset that has plagued me for years. I had moments of it last semester that affected my performance as a player and a student and most importantly, it affected my ability to appreciate my current experience abroad. But I am grateful for the help and support I’ve received from those I’ve shared this with. And I’m working to manage my thoughts in a more positive and productive way so that I can see the outcomes that I worked hard to achieve. I don’t think I would have reached this level of self-awareness without my experience as a Victory Scholar. Because I am outside of my comfort zone, I get to learn about myself each day: my capabilities, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. And from that, I can develop my best self, ultimately for the kids that I coach and for everyone else in my life. This is a journey and Sport Changes Life is giving me the opportunity to undertake it!
