Sports have been a major part of my life growing up and have shaped me into the person I am today.

The lessons I have learned from being a student-athlete have not only shaped my personal life, but my mindset and attitude when entering the workplace. The following are skills I have learned from being a member of the DeSales Women’s Tennis Team.

Time management

With daily practices, traveling to games, and the physical day of competing, an athlete’s schedule is already pretty packed. The balance between academics, athletics, jobs, extracurriculars, and a social life can be quite challenging at times. But because the activities and events in my schedule are set at certain times everyday, I am able to get work done in the spaces in my schedule. My jam-packed schedule as an athlete has taught me that time is valuable and should not be wasted. Time management is a valuable skill that should be brought into the workplace because employers will be looking for employees that are able to get their work done diligently and can balance their workload efficiently.

Patience

When playing sports, we need to wait for the perfect time to make a pass or shoot the shot. Patience is a trait that is essential in the workplace because you will need to work with other people who will not be at the same speed as you. Tennis is an individual sport that can be as short as 30 minutes or last multiple hours per match. Another thing that many athletes have gone through are injuries that refrain us from playing the sport that we love. The saying ‘patience is a virtue’ applies in both athletics and the workplace as we need to respect the aspect of time while we wait for the right opportunity to come to us.

Leadership

From playing sports, I have had the unique opportunity to develop the important quality of building up my teammates when they are down, motivating them to succeed, and standing up for what is right. Leadership is a common quality that a lot of athletes can bring into the workplace because being a leader is something that comes naturally. In the workplace, a leader needs to be able to delegate, motivate, and encourage the other people they work with. Those are skills I learned being the captain of multiple sports growing up and will continue to carry over throughout my life.

Teamwork

Everyone knows the saying ‘there’s no I in team’ and this is a crucial thing to remember in both sports and in life. Athletes are not the only ones who are on a team. Many people do not realize that when you are hired, you are a member of their team. Tennis is a very individual sport but through my experiences I have learned that I am still a member of the team. I rely on my teammates to build me up and motivate me to keep playing. Working with others is a skill that everyone needs to learn to do. Most jobs revolve around interacting with other people and communicating with one another. Having teamwork skills will definitely benefit you when you enter the workplace.

Although there are many more skills, these are some of the most important and beneficial skills that I have learned as an athlete. Possessing these skills will help shape my future work environment and my attitude towards working with others. I would not trade the skills I have learned from being a student-athlete for the world!