To the graduating student athlete

It won’t happen except if there was an Athlete’s Night or a school holds a special event solely for their graduating student athletes. But what would a commencement speaker most likely say to this unique group of young people who, in a way, lived two lives on campus?

Today, your school congratulates you for achieving victory of a different kind. You have earned your diplomas. As the school president will tell you, you receive these because you have fulfilled the requirements for your graduation.

It has not been an easy journey for you.  While your classmates ambled into your classrooms in the morning, you were already on the playing field working out. It could have been a training run, laps in the pool, walk-throughs or weight training.

The night before, you squeezed in a few hours of sleep and study after practice. You prayed throughout the day for help and the support of teammates and classmates to make it through another day.

Some of you did well on the playing courts and in the classrooms while others struggled to pass each test, recite or punch out papers.  All that while thinking of improving your free throw shooting, your jump serve or your finishing kick in a sprint. There were days you didn’t want to go to class or touch a book. Somehow, there was always a parent, coach or teacher who reminded you that classes were just as important.

For your sacrifices, your school is grateful.  Whether we won championships, “three-peats” or fell flat on the field, all that mattered was that you  represented us well. As our school name was screaming proudly on your chest, you carried all of us into the fray.

As you proceed with life, you now face choices. For those who will be granted that rare opportunity to earn a living playing your sport, we wish you well. Whether you become the next superstar or pine for more playing time, we are proud of you. You will go to a place many of your classmates merely dream of.

For the others who played school sports but have no professional opportunities, life now compels you to make big decisions.  Many of you will go on to coach other teams and some will coach our own school squads.  You will be blessed to stay in the sports you love and sacrificed so much for.

For many others, career decisions will dawn upon you. The need to make a living or simply do something substantial will come.  The minute you come to terms with the truth that life offers other possibilities aside from sports, you will be on your way to new adventures.

Sports helped prepare you for frustrations as well as achievements. Your sports life taught you to be resilient, to focus on goals while improving yourself. At the same time, sports allowed you to be humble in victory and to cheer when the better team, man or woman bested you.

You will never forget your teammates and coaches. But include in your memories your teachers and schoolmates who cheered for you and stuck with you when defeats gnawed at you. They are all part of your school life which makes this graduation, this end and beginning, truly special.