Addison Van Curler, ‘27, Sports Editor
The things a good coach, teacher, or parent wants most out of their child is their attitude, effort, and determination. If you play sports, participate in clubs, or have a job, everyone looks at your attitude and your effort for a grasp of the type of person you are. Whether you like it or not, your actions and effort towards your goals, shape you, and the person you will one day become.
Your attitude is what truly helps you succeed in life. Bob Urichuck from the National Association of Sales Professionals said, “It is your attitude that will make the biggest difference in your life—particularly when it comes to what you want to be, to do or to have. Your past and present are a result of your past attitude. However, your present attitude will determine your future. Right now, you are the author of your future.” Your future can be determined by your attitude—especially in sports. You have probably heard your coach tell you that they look for how hard you try versus how much skill you have, which is completely true. JV Softball coach Kristin Van Curler said, “A great player is someone that puts in the time and effort to be a better player, not only for themselves, but also for their team. They show a positive attitude on and off the field, they shake off that bad play and take accountability; they pick up a teammate when they’re down, and they show respect for their coaches.” The kids that work the hardest and keep their heads up are also the ones that see the best results in games and practices.
Keeping a good attitude will not only help you in sports, but also in other areas including work, school, and one’s personal life. A study helped to prove how your attitude and effort can create a ‘i can mindset.’ The Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia showed that “if the goal of education is not simply the memorization of facts, then we must stop focusing on the memorization of facts in our assessment measures, for what gets assessed is what gets emphasized. If success depends 90 percent on attitude and effort, only 10 percent on ability, we must foster can-do attitudes and self-confidence in our students.” The ‘I can’ in your head overpowers the ‘I’ll try.’ When you have the mindset that you can do anything—you will do it. Whether you think you can hit a grand slam during your baseball game, or even just make a free-throw during your basketball game, you will do it because of your determination, attitude, and effort.
Keeping a positive attitude is important, but so is improving. Sophomore Marissa Little, awarded “Most Improved” at her cross country banquet, said, “I feel like my determination helped me know that I can get there to be a good runner one day, as long as looking back to how far I came.” Having the determination to get better is the ultimate goal. Keeping determination is what having a good attitude is. It takes a good effort and a good attitude to have determination; that is what shapes a person.
Asking for help is a part of being successful. SLHS teacher and Varsity Girls’ Basketball coach Mr. Christopher Schroudt said, “We can draw some parallels between sports and life. In sports, you work hard, watch film, create a game plan and sometimes those things are enough and sometimes they are not.” He continued, “This is a lot like life; hard work is a key component of success but many times life throws you a curveball. When things don’t go the way you want, you have to figure out a way to succeed despite the challenges you face.” Whether you know how to fix your mistakes “despite the challenges you face,” it is also okay to ask for help, especially when it impacts your own life.
As long as you keep a positive mindset and attitude, that is all your teachers and coaches want to see. In order to achieve the dream of the person you want to become, and to achieve your goals, remember to develop and maintain a positive attitude and good effort. That is what will make any coach, teacher, or employer happy to have you as a player, student, or employee. Sophomore Anabelle Mangan said, “Hard work makes a person. It makes the result purely yours.” The result of what you put in will be yours, and nobody can stop you from achieving your goals.
Lyon Life 