With increasing regularity, it seems we turn on the news or open the newspaper to read about another shocking and devastating act of violence by an adolescent. Usually, once background information has been collected, a typical profile emerges of a student who has been a social outcast, has difficulty making or keeping friends, has trouble with resolving conflicts, is plagued by self-doubt and low self-esteem and isn’t sure they anyone really cares if they exist.
Sadly, it’s often the case these adolescents spent their school years without any hobbies, participation in extracurriculars, or being part of any teams. Though being part of a team or a sports program doesn’t ensure that adolescents will become socially well-adjusted adults, it certainly has been my experience that it gives you a niche, or a boost they helps you find your footing in life.
Looking back to some of my earliest childhood memories, I remember watching my older sisters participate in sports. As soon as I was old enough, I began kicking a soccer ball as hard as I could and throwing up the basketball with all my might.
Before I knew it, my parents had signed me up for various community youth sports leagues in Geneva. Regularly, I could be found outside, practicing with my family, excited to be apart of a team.
Eventually, I got older and worked my way onto the Geneva High School girls soccer and basketball programs. Suddenly, though the sporting event rules were the same, the stakes were much higher and the commitment more serious. Pausing now for a moment to reflect, I find myself in awe of just how much influence there programs had in my life, both on the court and off.
Though I didn’t know it when I first joined the teams at Geneva High School, I would learn a lot of life lessons in just four short years. When I started as a freshman, I received a wakeup call almost immediately. Though I was already a hard worker, I was suddenly forced to make a commitment to train hard in both the on and off season.
When I made that commitment, I was forced into a regimen where each member of the team was forced to dig a little deeper every practice, work a little harder, and push ourselves a little further than we thought ever possible. Often, during conditioning, when I was dripping sweat, gasping for air, and struggling to keep form collapsing to the ground in sheer exhaustion, I managed to physically push myself just a little harder and run a little further.
When I injured my ankle and had to work to rehabilitate myself during and important season, and play with a broken nose, I was forced to overcome my pain and work harder than I ever had.
When I took on the position of goalie in soccer — a position I knew very little about — I practiced and pushed myself to excel despite being in unfamiliar territory.
Though reaching new heights and overcoming my limitations physically was important in my life, I think the emotional and mental lessons I learned from being a Geneva High School athlete have been the most valuable in my life so far.
As a member of the soccer and basketball teams, I learned early on the importance of being a team player in everything you do, never failing to honor your commitment to the other people relying on you.
I can remember many times when I was physically and mentally exhausted, in pain, or just having a bad day — wanting nothing more than to have the game end so I could go home — but looking into the faces of my teammates around me in the huddle and realizing that I had to give just a little more, work a little harder because these girls and this coach were counting on me to hold up my end of team bargain.
I have cried the bittersweet tears of a player who has lost a game that was incredibly close, screamed and cheered in celebration over a triumphant and unexpected victory, and experienced absolute humility and witnessed grace when watching a teammate work through a tragic car accident and resulting injuries.
I have learned to respectfully shake the hand of an opponent who disrespected me on the court, accepted my mistakes and worked harder the next game to turn them into positives, and have mastered the act of balancing academics and athletics.
I am the successful, bright, motivated and positive female I am today because of the support of my family, the academic rigor of my school years, and definitely because of the influences of the Geneva High School sports program.
To put this simply. I AM a Geneva High School student -athlete with all the hard work, integrity, and success being one implies.
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