women and athletics
...m coaches about discipline and teamwork to academics and always did exceptionally well in school. Athletics has helped me to learn the importance of being competitive both on and off the field, to continually strive to better myself. As I got older I started to realize just how fortunate I was to be able to grow up in a culture where women’s athletics was accepted and encouraged. For example, my mom, who grew up in the early 70’s, didn’t have the same opportunities that I had. Even though Title IX (the constitutional amendment that guarantees women equality in sports) was passed in 1972, it still took quite awhile to really take effect throughout the country. My mom had very few options, cheerleading and track were the only sports she could participate in at a competitive level in high school. She had no where near the variety of sports from which I got to chose and participate in. Throughout history, women have always been considered inferior to men and not worth the price of admission. Not a lot of people are interested in watching women perform athletically. It’s just always going to be that way. Men were built differently than women and are more exciting to watch. They are stronger, faster, and more athletic. However, this doesn’t mean women shouldn’t play sports. Not only is it an extraordinary thing to be able to go out and play a sport that you love, but it’s also an experience that every young girl should have. I learned so much about so much from being involved in athletics. I think that I learned something different about myself with each new team and new coach that I experienced. I learned how to be a good teammate and a good friend, how to trust people, how to have confidence in myself, and that as long as I’m willing to work hard, I can achieve anything I want to in life. I struggled with my grades in elementary school. Up until fourth grade I didn’t care if I got a B or a C, but then once again something changed and I wanted to be successful in the classroom. I liked the compliments I was getting for doing well in soccer, or basketball, or softball. I started to want compliments for doing well in school as well as in sports. My whole mind frame completely changed. I was more focused in school and started doing really well. Athletics helped me to see that hard work is recognized and appreciated in the classroom and on the playing field. It also helped me to deal with any pressures I felt on me to do well in something. In sports you constantly are in pressure situations and by learning to deal with those while playing sports it has carried over into any stressful or pressure situations I’ve been in. After I found that I could have success in school and in athletics I began to work harder in bothThe more attention and compliments that I got received friends and family, the harder I tried. I wanted to make my parents, friends, and teachers proud. My life would be completely different if I had chosen to steer clear of athletics. I probably wouldn’t be at Michigan State, I wouldn’t have the same friends, and I might be a completely different person. I might not know the value of hard work or how to have confidence in myself. Granted, you learn these things from doing other things but they may not have been pounded into me like they were when I was playing sports. I probably wouldn’t be as mentally strong as I am either. Being involved in athletics has made me be able to deal with almost any difficult situation that may come my way. I feel like I have such a good head on my shoulders that I can ha...