Sport | Beyond the Scoreboard

The final whistle blew and it was over.

The game was over.

The season was over.

The sprints were over.

The practices were over.

The scouting reports and the game plans were over.

The opportunity to compete for a National Championship was over.

And as I looked at the scoreboard from the field one last time and watched the LED lights flicker and fade into the darkness, I thought to myself...

"It's not over; it'll never be over."

And now, 4 years later, it's still not over and never will be.

And here's why...

That scoreboard, those statistics and the record of that team will get lost and buried in the archives of the program with each passing year. Our names will be forgotten, records will be broken and the dynamics of the sport will inevitably change. But the heart, yes the heart, will never forget the growth it has experienced, the lessons learned and the feeling of the fire burning inside of it from every significant win and loss that it has endured. You will hang those cleats up one day, but the heart... that is with you wherever you go.

Here are some of the life-lessons that I have learned with and through sport:

1. Practice does not make perfect; practice makes better. There is no such thing as perfect and there is no guarantee that the additional hours will make you the best. You can juggle the soccer ball all you want to, but there is someone out there who will naturally have a better first touch and handle on the ball than you ever will. Continuously strive to elevate your weaknesses and maximize your talents and skillset to reach its full potential; to what your natural talents allow. Always focus on becoming the best version of yourself and helping others become the best version of themselves along the way.

2. Sometimes you can try your hardest and give it everything you got and still not succeed. That's life. Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way; sometimes it does. Sometimes you leave everything you have between the lines and when you cross the line at the end of the game, you are no further ahead than where you were when you started. Sometimes the very thing you want the most is the thing that you will never have. It happens. But you know what? You give it your all anyway; in every aspect of your life - your sport, your job, your studies, your relationships, your passions, etc. If at first you don't succeed, try and try again... new doors will eventually open.

3. Sacrifices need to be made for the common good; know your role. Whether it is you selflessly getting out in order to advance a teammate closer to home; or you sitting the bench but understanding that your positive attitude and energy is a driving force in the victories and successes of your entire team... you are a key component of the unit. In life, there are situations where you are on the stage in the spotlight leading, in the crowd watching and supporting or in the background making sure everything runs smoothly as possible. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, you are playing a significant role. So be selfless, stay humble, help those in need, rely on others' expertise and do what you can to drive your teammates, your classmates, your colleagues and your community in the right direction.

4. Always have an 'Easy Button.' Remember the Staples campaign that when you pushed the 'Easy Button,' all of your cares and concerns went away? Have one of those. For me, sport was my 'Easy Button.' It was a friend I could always turn to that would never question, never prod and was undoubtedly always there. Sport helped me reframe, unwind and persevere through some of the most trying times in my life so far. It provided an opportunity for me to focus on something other than the stressors; sport was my escape. So make sure you have an 'Easy Button.' Whether it is running, painting, writing, doing yoga, etc. - whatever makes your heart happy, do that.

5. Do not be afraid to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Do one more sprint, run that marathon, lift five pounds heavier, etc. Go to that event that piqued your interest and that you know no one who is going. Respectfully stand up for what you strongly believe in though your standing face-to-face with someone who has the opposite view. Take the lead on a project though you may lack the confidence to do so. The journey may be filled with peaks and valleys, but it will be rewarding in some way, shape or form.

So you see, it will never be "over."

For me, sport was a platform for learning these invaluable lessons; for helping develop who I am now and laying the foundation for who I will become.

Do not pay any more attention to the story that the scoreboard is telling you, for it is not the whole story. There is nothing of value on it that is greater than what is found beyond it.