What is the most important lesson that you have learned this year and how will it impact you moving forward? by Abbie-Marie

What is the most important lesson that you have learned this year and how will it impact you moving forward? by Abbie-Marie - July 2024 Scholarship Essay

The most important lesson that I have learned this year is that when you want to accomplish and achieve something, you are essential part to help get yourself there. My goal is to work in the sports industry, specifically with a professional soccer team, and I have learned that gaining experience is essential to achieving this. This year at the University of Miami, I had the privilege of working with two teams: the baseball team and the football team.

With the baseball team, I shadowed their physical therapist. At the beginning of the year, I reached out to six athletic trainers and physical therapists at my school asking if I could shadow them. I did this not because someone suggested I do so or an advisor recommended it, but because I knew it was something that I had to do in order to gain the experience and observation hours that I knew I needed. I found their emails, sent them out, and received some no's, no replies, and one yes. That one yes gave me the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience.

With the football team, I had the privilege of working with their nutritionist. My professor in my Intro to Sports Administration spoke of the opportunity, and I applied. When I didn't receive a response after some time, I followed up until I got a response, an interview, and ultimately an internship with them. This experience taught me the importance of persistence and taking initiative.

While others may help and suggest things for me to do, I know that at the end of the day, I am the only one who can make it happen. This lesson has made me more proactive and determined. Moving forward, I will continue to seek out opportunities and take the necessary steps to achieve my goals. I understand that my success depends on my actions and my willingness to put in the effort.

This lesson will impact me by making me more self-reliant and driven. I will not wait for opportunities to come to me; I will go out and create them. This mindset will help me succeed in the sports industry and in any other area of my life.