If I had to categorize the events that I have attended in order of most liked, this would make the top three easily. Who knew that tennis and the mindset behind it would be so personally relevant to me. Hearing Coach Tanasoiu speak about the challenges that each athlete faces on a daily basis made me realize how much respect I have for student athletes. It is really not easy, and the time commitment of attending an Ivy League University as well as being an athlete is a task that requires a strong and persistent mindset.

This is the kind of mindset that trains and helps a person reach their goals and accomplish their full potential. Being an athlete has much to teach a person about how to work for what they want, and about the true costs of sacrifice. One of the points that the Coach resonated with me most was that the mindset is everything. Without it, one cannot achieve. Part of having a successful mindset is to know how to manage your time. This is something that I think can always improve. In fact, I would say that it is one of the biggest keys to success. The ability to prioritize time is something that I took away from this event, and will apply with much more intensity in both my academics as well as in my personal life. The coach stated that not matter the talent, the students must understand that they are students and have to be willing to devote extensive parts of their time.

The coach also spoke about the recruiting process for athletes. I had no idea how difficult it was to recruit the right fit of athlete for Cornell. He stated that the attitude of the potential student is everything. Once, he saw an athlete who had impeccable talent, but absolute disrespect for his coach. He realized that if he had not respect for those who spent the time helping him reach his goals, then he would have no respect for his new teammates or for the coach.

I did not ever stop to think about all of the things that I could learn from the students around me who partake in sports. I knew that they were hardworking and had good time management, but I have realized that their challenges and struggles and their coping mechanisms could teach the rest of the student population a thing or two.