#4 The Field
          
  We’ve talked about the academic piece to a student-athlete. Now it is time to address the athletic portion. Sports are time consuming. Furthermore, they are not necessary to life like academics are, so it is very hard to compare the importance of the two. However, that does not mean that there is no purpose in becoming the best athlete. Striving to become the best at anything will increase the chances to achieve success in any person’s life.

 What does it take to be the best?
That’s easy. You’ve heard it a hundred times, “hours of hard work, the most heart, the most toughness, the most dedication, etc.”, but have you ever truly listened to that message and took the time to think about it? For those who answered no, focus on what you are about to read. Take it to heart and allow it to alter the mindset you have towards athletics.

The Sacrifice
Athletics are not meant for everyone. If it was easy everyone would do it, but its not easy. Athletes do it because they love it and they want to be the best because that matters to them. This means they have given up their free time, have booked their schedule and packed their life with extra responsibilities that everyone else does not have. They won’t be out late with friends or spontaneously taking road trips and vacations to overcome their boredom. they might as well say goodbye to their winter/summer breaks or even both depending on the sport(s) they play. This is their grind-time. An uninterrupted time of year where they have both AM’s and PM’s to perfect their craft. They say goodbye to staying up late on Friday nights, because they have a game or a practice tomorrow morning. This is their sacrifice. 
            They ready for pain. They expect it, deal with it, learn to love it, because there will be no success without it. Athletes push themselves to their limits all day, every day. If they aren’t working harder than everyone else, then they are getting further away from being the best.

The Reward
             Being the best in a sport for 99.9% of athletes does not pay the bills. So why does it matter? Why would anyone want to work that hard to achieve no added financial bonus? They already enjoy the sport they play so what’s a better ranking do for anyone? The answer to that is, put simply, the lessons and habits learned in becoming the greatest possible athlete directly correlate to the knowledge and habits that form good parents and successful employees. The hard work and dedication to overcoming challenges and the desire to thrive are all important characteristics necessary in succeeding in the real world.
     Becoming a better athlete and trying to be the best of them will indirectly turn anyone into a better and more successful human being in the long run.


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