Being in a fast paced school environment I sometimes rely on the qualities I’ve learned through hockey. Whether it’s the constant stress or the desire to succeed as a journalism student, I approach every issue that arises with the mindset I learned through sports. It’s critical to stay modest and respect my peers as they will be the ones to have my back when I need it the most.
As a child I remember being half asleep, my mom would do her best to wake me as the sun was rising. I never truly enjoyed the early morning road trips to hockey. It wasn’t even the promise of Tim Hortons that made these mornings great but it was the group of friends, my hockey team, that made the struggle well worth it.
Skip ahead to today and I still don’t love the early mornings or my mom yelling at me to wake up, but my passion and love for hockey remains at an all-time high.
I know the way I speak and think about hockey is the same way other people think of their own sport. Whether it’s hockey, baseball, football, soccer or any other sport, people who participated in these sports, along with passion, developed lifelong characteristics that shapes who they are today.
Leadership, teamwork, perseverance, confidence, focus-oriented and self-discipline are only a few of the skills that I’ve learned through playing sports. Not only do I apply these skills to everyday life but also I use them as a foundation to success. As a child I learned how to lose and control my emotions, as much as losing sucked — though it’s something that’s inevitable. Sports were able to teach me to work hard towards what you want; there are no shortcuts or magic to help, being great at something requires dedication and hard work.
All of the skills I learned through sports still play a major role in my adult life. From my personal friendships to the classroom at school, I thank sports for making me the person I am today.
I’m fortunate enough to still be able to occupy my free time with one of my true passions. Whether it’s 11 p.m. on a random weeknight or in the middle of the day between classes, I always make time for what makes me happy.