I really love sports.
Sports brings out the best in us. Teamwork, communication, dedication, persistence, and excellence become the norm when you play them. Dealing with failure and overcoming increasing challenges are just part of the experience. The valuable lessons that are taught stick with you over time, especially those related to choosing persistence.
What a summer it has been for sporting events. For a sports lover like me, this summer has been a feast for the senses. First, the European Soccer Championships, then Copa America, and as I’m writing this, we are smack dab in the middle of the 33rd Olympiad. There is no better example of the power of sports to bring people together to accomplish amazing things than the Olympics and Paralympics. And, if you’ve watched even a couple of those powerful vignettes that NBC sprinkles in between events, you know that some of the most inspiring stories come from the athletes who have persisted over great obstacles to reach their dreams.
But there is one sport that sits in my soul because I started playing it when I was very young and that I’ve really enjoyed watching this summer: baseball. Something that has become a trend in baseball over the last few decades has been the advent of the “walk-up song.” It gets everyone hyped and ready to go as the batter is walking up to the plate or the relief pitcher is coming in from the bullpen.
Choosing to Persist
My question for all you educators out there is, with the new “season” (i.e., the ‘24-’25 school year) getting ready to start, what is your walk-up song? What is the story that you are telling yourself about how the next school year is going to be? Think about what will be playing in your head as you take those first steps to the front of your classroom this fall. If it’s something like this or this, we need to talk.
I know that education has really been through the wringer in the last five years. No need to pick at that scab. But instead, let’s take a lesson from those Olympic athletes and use adversity to our advantage. If you are familiar with the Ice House 8 Life Lessons, you know that Lesson 8 is all about persistence. As we discuss in our facilitator training, the hallmark of being able to persist through challenges and setbacks is optimism. When you can look to the future and know that it will be better and that you can eventually reach your goals, you are displaying optimism.
As Gary laid out in this blog on persistence, that combination of goals for the future and an optimistic viewpoint are many times what makes the difference between success and failure. It can also create a level of happiness and prevent lots of wasted time spent complaining about your current circumstances. The great Stoic philosophers knew this, and their lessons are very applicable to us today.
Picking Your Walk-Up Song
I hope as you are prepping for the school year you can take an optimistic viewpoint of what the school year will be like. I hope that your walk-up song is something that really gets you excited about the possibilities for the new school year rather than the potential obstacles.
Maybe you should blow your students away and have it playing while they are walking into class that first day. They’ll know that they are in for an exciting ride for this new school year. You won’t just be better for it, but your students will have a better learning experience when they see you as a continual example of positivity and optimism.
Have a great start to the school year everyone. As for me, I’m going into the fall with this walk-up song. Let’s go!!!