From a 5th Year Athlete
Dear first year Kodiaks student-athlete,
You are about to embark on a journey that will change your life in ways you never expected. You will make friends, you will be challenged, you will be pushed out of your comfort zone, and ultimately you will grow. I just completed my fifth year at Lethbridge College and I hope to share some of what I learned in my five years.
The number one piece of advice I can give a first-year student athlete is to remember that being a student comes first and athletics is second. Everything you do, in school or sport, do to the best of your ability. Education opens up incredible opportunities for learning and it should not be neglected or taken for granted.
Be confident. Confidence - not to be confused with arrogance - is something that every athlete struggles with (heck every human!). College sports are intense: the workload is heavy, the competition is tough, and the margin for error is small. All of these elements test and try your confidence throughout a season and your entire career. How can you deal with that? Having a strong support system around you is a great start. Ask for help and be open to receiving it. This can be hard but the college offers so many great resources (counselling services, on-site RN, 24/7 hotline) for students.
Remember why you fell in love with your sport. Remember the little girl or boy who tried something new and never turned back. Focus on the things you can control - your effort, your attitude, and your commitment. Be confident in your abilities and open to growing. If you focus on these things, your skill will increase and you will be able to withstand the taxing ups and downs of a season.
Be a great teammate. Time that you spend investing in your teammates will be invaluable. This touches back to the previous point. Having confidence in yourself and your team will be the foundation to becoming an elite teammate. This takes a lot of focus and commitment. You will be challenged to exercise patience, grace, and selflessness in practice, games, on the bus, on road trips, in the off-season, when you don’t want to, and when you feel least equipped. This kind of commitment and sacrifice is vital. It can be as simple as holding the door open for your entire team, getting to practice 30 minutes early, cleaning up the locker room, or planning a team meal. There are a lot of things you will not be able to control as an athlete but your commitment to your team is something you can.
Be coachable. I was a part of five very different teams and in total had seven different coaches and assistant coaches. Each team and coach wanted something different from me. I needed to adapt and understand my role. This will require you to grow. It will involve tough conversations and a lot of hard work. However, being coachable and understanding your role in sports will help prepare you for future working environments. Ultimately if you are focusing on your confidence and being a great teammate, you will also be a coachable player that sees the needs of their team.
Finally, have something outside of sports. Your identity is not solely in your sport. One day you will be a retired athlete - even professional athletes retire one day. But do cherish every single moment you get to identify with that title. Being a student-athlete is an incredibly unique experience that you will not find anywhere else. I loved every single minute I got to spend in a Kodiaks jersey. As my journey ends, I am excited to make room for new athletes to start their journey as Kodiaks student-athletes.
Kirsten Barwegen