Dear Future Student-Athlete,
I know right now is a challenging time for some of you. You are feeling stressed out because you cannot showcase your athletic abilities. After all, the world has come to a halt. Thank you, Covid-19. But rest assured, you will grow stronger from this.
This downtime is also very important because I’d like for you to sit down and think about your aspirations in life. Don’t make the same mistake I made when I was in high school.
How Thinking Like A Student-Athlete Messed Me Up
When I was about 15 or 16 in high school, I became obsessed with playing lacrosse at the next level. I remember sitting in my pointless 10th-grade computer art design class and finishing my work early to watch the latest Max Seibald highlights and other lacrosse videos.
Ask me then what I’d wanted to be in life and I couldn’t give a straight answer. “Ehh, probably something in business, maybe marketing”. But deep down, the only direction I wanted to go was to be playing for a National Championship on Memorial Day Weekend.
I became so dedicated to perfecting my craft. I’ve spent countless hours practicing after school. I missed proms and class trips so I can get the edge on the competition. My friend circle got smaller to the point that I was pretty much only friends with people on the boys and girls lacrosse team.
I was so laser-focused on my goal that during the school day it felt like I was on autopilot. Granted, I still did very well in school but my job at that moment was to improve my skills to become the best lacrosse player I can.
“But little did I know then, I wasn’t concerned with the ramifications of my decisions later in life.”
My Suppressed Passion
When I was in Middle School, I had been fascinated with aviation. I would go to airshows every year and watch the Blue Angels & Thunderbirds perform their gravity-defying acts. I liked to get up close and personal with the airplanes and helicopters just awed with the mass of machinery.
Looking back today, 13 years old knew what his passion was in life.
The Student-Athlete Lives His Dream
I eventually got my call to play college lacrosse. After basically sitting out my Freshman year minus two games where I played only a few minutes so I didn’t get red-shirted, I almost decided to transfer and close the book on my college lacrosse career. However, the brotherhood of being apart of a team kept me in and eventually becoming short stick Defensive Middie and a two-year team captain.
Years later reflecting on my experience, there is nothing that I regret about my decision to play college lacrosse. It’s not like I can go back in time and change things. I met some great people along the way and had some great experiences like road trips. But what impact being a student-athlete have on my life? Would my life be any different had I not played? Probably not.
Being a Student-Athlete Didn’t Get Me Anywhere…Kinda
Professional Lacrosse was and still is in its infancy. You have to be a stud athlete from Duke if you want to remote shot in hell in playing on a pro team. I went to a Division-2 school. Granted, some guys went pro from my team but who the hell wanted an undersized converted short-stick defensive middie. Plus my senior year, I was hit with the injury bug. I had my first confirmed concussion and two sprained ankles. Pro Lacrosse was out of the question, so I knew I had to rely on my degree.
I graduated with a degree in Marketing. Marketing was something I always was interested in. But thinking about it, it was a plan B. Corporate life seemed cool back then too. I was thinking that I was easily going to climb the ladder and one day become a CEO. Easy as pie. This was my thought until I started actively applying to jobs.
Rejection after rejection, I soon grew frustrated. I finally landed a great opportunity in New York City. It was nice at first. It still is. But I realized that I wasn’t shooting for the stars. I don’t think I am doing what my heart desires.
Is this the life I want to live for the rest of my life?
Realizing My Passion In Life
Today, I wonder what the 13-year-old me would say to me if I told him what I become. I accomplished a lot, and I still have more to accomplish. I’m fully committed to plan B right now. But I can’t imagine the look on his face when I tell him that I’m not doing what he loved.
During this pandemic, I’ve been watch tons of videos about HH-60 Pave Hawks which are flown by Air Force Combat Search and Rescue Squadrons. That would’ve been a cool thing to do. And yes, I know nothing stopping me from doing that now. Except, I’m 26 years old, a couple of years deep into my full-time job, bills to pay, bum ankles, and my fast-twitch muscle fibers don’t quite twitch fast enough anymore.
My Advice For You Future Student-Athletes
My advice to you, you young tadpole is to don’t get too focused on your sport when thinking about college. You are there to learn, not play sports. Less than 1% of all college athletes play professionally.
“So you need a find something you love and pursue it in college because you’re going to be doing it for the rest of your life.”
Don’t go to a school because they have the sport you want to play. Don’t go to a school because they win national championships. Last time I checked, national championship rings don’t open the door for you to when it’s the time from job opportunities. Go to a school, that has your major and has the support for you to get you where you want to be. Being a student-athlete should always be second.
My challenge for you, right now during this pandemic is to assess your intentions. Write them down. Speak to your parents about it. Talk to your coach. They need to keep you honest. You should never be alone during this process. It’s your first big adult decision. Make it a good one.
Sincerely,
Drew
