Being Involved as a Student-Athlete
#1 - Get Involved & Stay Involved | #2 Networking & Fans | #3 Peers | #4 Better Than We Found It
#1
How to be involved in your community as a Student Athlete and why it is important:
In my opinion, the best way to become involved in your community is by giving back through volunteering. Yes, it is difficult to find time, but there is nothing more rewarding than helping others.
Helping people can teach an athlete to become a servant leader. This isn't the sole reason to do it, but it will humble you.
The reason to do it is because it is the right thing to do.
In the athletic realm, there is no better place to be involved in than @AuburnSAAC. If anyone ever asks your to join a SAAC group, DO IT.
You will meet so many incredible people in your athlete department.
@DerrickBrownAU5 knows this one!
#2
This also increases your network of people you know after athletics is over. Sure your team may be big (20+ for softball), but there are usually over 300+ Athletes at any given university (on average 510 per an athletic department).
Get to know as many as possible. Building relationships matter.
Spend time with fans, especially younger kids. Everyone knows that little kids look up to athletes, so make sure that you leave a great mark on them.
It is rewarding to see the look in a kids eye when you spend 5 minutes of your day talking to them. #3:
They will be fans for life.
I promise you aren't "that busy".
Cut out Netflix if you have to.
#3
Spend time with people that aren't athletes. Yes, I said it. The kids in your chemistry 101 class are humans just like you. Go study with them. Go out to eat. Be engaged in their conversations.
At @AuburnU, these people will go on to run companies (Tim Cook @Apple). #4:
This will benefit you by working on your interpersonal skills (everyone isn't an athlete) and by strengthing your network.
But once again, this isn't why you do it. You do it because it is the right thing to do. #5:
My final way to be involved is the hardest, but also the simplest.
Be a great example of what people want the student athletes at your university to be.
That's it.
That's the tweet.
#4
But seriously, you have the opportunity to do something that people would LOVE to do.
Don't waste it by doing things that don't matter.
Leave a positive mark.
Leave your school and program better than you found it! I hope this was helpful. As always, if you ever need help, please feel free to DM me.
