Great article from our friends at Scholarpreps.com
The value of playing a sport in college is difficult to measure. When you graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree and play sports, you are simultaneously graduating with a master’s degree in numerous life skills that will set you up for success in the work place and in life. Through lectures and textbooks you can learn a lot about calculus, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and the molecular structure of plants, but the same cannot be said for virtues like accountability, perseverance, and teamwork. One set of knowledge will help you from time to time in specific situations where that specific knowledge is needed, but the other set you will need to tap into day in and day out.
A Team for Life
When talking about life after college my Dad would always say, “it’s all about who you know….” But sadly, in our insanely isolating digital age we occupy right now, making friends can be more difficult than ever. If you look around any environment where the majority of people are under 30, you’ll see heads down staring at phones. Friendships can seem superficial and surface level today for a lot of young people because Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat strip away any raw emotion and intimacy.
When you play sports in college, you and your teammates experience emotions together that you may have never experienced before. The absolute mental anguish and grit required to get through two-a-day practices in the hot August sun you experience together. The roller coaster of emotions that come from triumphant victories and crushing defeats are experienced together. The bonds that are formed on the field, rink, court, track, and gym are stronger than any digital friendship can ever come close to. Those friendships that are forged in the most difficult of circumstances will be your safety net and support system as you navigate through life after college. Former teammates will be the first to help you get back on your feet after the loss of a job. The people you got yelled at with by your former coach will be the ones you will want to stand up at your wedding and be there when tragedy strikes. The network you build on the field is something that cannot be priced.
Self-Improvement
In order to achieve anything great, you must work very hard at improving yourself, staying….read the rest at Scholarpreps.com
