If I Only Knew...Lessons Learned as a Student-Athlete

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If I only knew then what I know now, knowing how fortunate I was to be given the opportunity to be a student-athlete.   I guess I always thought I knew what a privilege it was to play a sport at the college level, but did I know it because that is what everyone around me was telling me or was it because I really believed it?  My experience was a common student-athlete experience. As a basketball player at Gonzaga, my life was very structured and laid out for me. I was told what classes to take and when to be at study hall.  My practice gear was laid out for me daily, I had my schedule of weights, individuals and practice were outlined and I just executed. Essentially, I had a checklist of when and where to be.

Community service was a part of my student-athlete checklist of responsibilities, and I did it. Did I really understand why or what it meant to be doing the community service while I was in it and doing it?  Looking back, all I really understood was that it was on the list.  I knew logically it was important, but I didn’t get how meaningful my experience could be. It was more of an appearance.

But now I know I truly “get it.”  Part of my responsibility as athlete engagement coordinator at the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI, pronounced “bossy”) is to build relationships with student athletes primarily at Santa Clara University and help engage them in meaningful service to underprivileged girls in Santa Clara. Female athletes have so much to give back to the community and I feel honored that I can help guide female student athletes to realize the amazing opportunity to embrace BAWSI and change the lives of hundreds of young girls.  I hope I can take my experiences on the playground and knowledge to help speed up the process of them “getting it” quicker than I did. I see my role at BAWSI with the athletes to build a trusting relationship where I can be a good resource for them.   I was in their shoes not all that long ago and would have loved to have someone just explain the importance of service and guide me to a better understanding of the power I have as a strong woman and the impact I can make by helping others. I want to be that person for these athletes and help them grow individually and realize the effect they have on changing young lives.

Mahatma Gandhi summed it up best - “the future depends on what we do in the present.”

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