Elevate NOT Celebrate!

Dear Athlete,

Compete!

Academic development areas and significant character flaws are temporarily hidden now due to your athletic prowess. But the very things you are trying to avoid now, have a funny way of appearing when you less expect them to. So while you are surrounded now by the comfort of friends, families, and fans be sure to start working on improving the whole you. Giving 100% in your respective sport is a given, but this year I’m asking you to compete in all areas of your life.

Athletics can provide you a lane out of your current environment that is not available for most of your peers. Use it wisely! Don’t be fooled into believing that the love and support - emotional & monetary- you receive while competing will be with you for the rest of your life. Build relationships with peers, coaches, and fans that will assist you in securing opportunities that align with your passions, talents and ultimately your purpose.  If your love is sports, identify a career that will help you stay in the game as a professional, not an athlete! If you are not quite sure what you want to do post-school, start asking for help now! Have a higher chance of receiving assistance while still rocking a jersey than when you return to the general population in the eye of the fan.

Become aware of issues that are plaguing your community or the communities that you compete against during the season. Lend your voice, time, resources to elevate these issues. Avoid group thought of “I’m just an athlete whose only concern is competing for championships." For if your status as an athlete is used only for personal celebration and not community uplift, you will find yourself in situations later in life wishing you would have done more with the opportunity you have now.

With a couple of weeks remaining of your summer break, take some time to think about how you want to use athletics as a tool for you to elevate yourself, family and community. If you need some assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Elevate the whole YOU this year!

Tracy A. Jones, Founder & Executive Director