Congratulations on becoming a collegiate athlete. You've worked your tail off to get to this point, but you have a lot more work to do.
I know the anticipation is killing you - practicing and preparing for your first game as a Ladyjack - but once you get on that field, make sure you enjoy every second. From this point on each game is a countdown to your last, and you're going to want to look back and say, "Wow, time flies, but what a heck of a career I've had. I left it all on the field."
You won't appreciate each time you step on the field this year, but when you get injured and can't play for a few games, and when you see those teammates who seem permanently stuck on the sideline, you'll realize how blessed you are to have God-given talent and the desire to be the best person on the field.
Don't lose that desire.
Hard work, late nights, early mornings, fatigued muscles, sacrifice, tears, and blood are going to be necessary to reach your dreams and your goals. Don't let any set-back take your eyes off of those. I promise you the hard moments in your career are the most worth it. It will be easy when the team wins, but it will be hard when things just don't seem to connect.
Don't lose hope.
Stay composed and lead.
Don't be afraid to lead as a freshman. As long as you can take criticism and perform at a high level, people will respect you. It doesn't matter how old you are.
When you have the chance to build friendships with your teammates away from organized soccer events, do it. Take advantage of it. Build those relationships. Put off homework for 30 minutes to grab fro-yo with a teammate. You won't remember your homework four years later and you work well under a time limit.
Trust me, you'll be fine.
In four years you're going to want those memories with your teammates, who became family, and you're going to want it to be hard to say goodbye.
When you get to your senior season - laugh. Enjoy tough weight days, look around during early morning practices, even though you're freezing and didn't get enough sleep, and take in the surroundings. These moments are fleeting and once they're gone they remain memories.
Take the preparation and work seriously, but dude, when you step onto that field just let loose and play without hesitation.
You know what you're doing. It's in your blood.
Off the field be a light to your team, even when you don't feel like it. You have a set amount of hours to be an example and leave a lasting impact on the girls around you, so take advantage of each moment you get.
Be the person you want to be remembered as.
The team is yours to lead, so lead them through humility and by example. You'll be led by captains that aren't the most fun to be led by, but learn from them.
Spoiler alert - you don't make captain your junior year and it's going to break your heart. You will cry, but you will learn to lead without a title attached to your name and you'll grow into a person who is ready to lead your senior year. You make captain your senior year when you're ready.
Take those good qualities from past captains and make them better. Take those improvable qualities and improve them.
Be the person you want to be led by and the rest will follow suit.
Responsibility is not easy, but I know you can and will rise to the challenge.
I believe in you.
I know the anticipation is killing you - practicing and preparing for your first game as a Ladyjack - but once you get on that field, make sure you enjoy every second. From this point on each game is a countdown to your last, and you're going to want to look back and say, "Wow, time flies, but what a heck of a career I've had. I left it all on the field."
You won't appreciate each time you step on the field this year, but when you get injured and can't play for a few games, and when you see those teammates who seem permanently stuck on the sideline, you'll realize how blessed you are to have God-given talent and the desire to be the best person on the field.
Don't lose that desire.
Hard work, late nights, early mornings, fatigued muscles, sacrifice, tears, and blood are going to be necessary to reach your dreams and your goals. Don't let any set-back take your eyes off of those. I promise you the hard moments in your career are the most worth it. It will be easy when the team wins, but it will be hard when things just don't seem to connect.
Don't lose hope.
Stay composed and lead.
Don't be afraid to lead as a freshman. As long as you can take criticism and perform at a high level, people will respect you. It doesn't matter how old you are.
When you have the chance to build friendships with your teammates away from organized soccer events, do it. Take advantage of it. Build those relationships. Put off homework for 30 minutes to grab fro-yo with a teammate. You won't remember your homework four years later and you work well under a time limit.
Trust me, you'll be fine.
In four years you're going to want those memories with your teammates, who became family, and you're going to want it to be hard to say goodbye.
When you get to your senior season - laugh. Enjoy tough weight days, look around during early morning practices, even though you're freezing and didn't get enough sleep, and take in the surroundings. These moments are fleeting and once they're gone they remain memories.
Take the preparation and work seriously, but dude, when you step onto that field just let loose and play without hesitation.
You know what you're doing. It's in your blood.
Off the field be a light to your team, even when you don't feel like it. You have a set amount of hours to be an example and leave a lasting impact on the girls around you, so take advantage of each moment you get.
Be the person you want to be remembered as.
The team is yours to lead, so lead them through humility and by example. You'll be led by captains that aren't the most fun to be led by, but learn from them.
Spoiler alert - you don't make captain your junior year and it's going to break your heart. You will cry, but you will learn to lead without a title attached to your name and you'll grow into a person who is ready to lead your senior year. You make captain your senior year when you're ready.
Take those good qualities from past captains and make them better. Take those improvable qualities and improve them.
Be the person you want to be led by and the rest will follow suit.
Responsibility is not easy, but I know you can and will rise to the challenge.
I believe in you.
No comments:
Post a Comment