Many athletes they say their sport is their life and that is true, but I also think that your sport does not define you.

 I think being able to look back on your college days and saying you had fun and made the best out of it is a great thing. 

The memories from teammates, roommates, friends, and even strangers will never go away. Laughs will last a lifetime and the memories will never fade.

There are times when many athletes just need to get away from sports and school, so they don’t get burnt out. Doing the same thing and being on the same routine over and over again everyday can be very dragging. 

So, it’s important that you go out of your way to try new things and make new friends other than your teammates, who you are around constantly. Being around your teammates isn’t a bad thing, but if you don’t have any other friends you may not be getting the best out of your college experience. 

Living in the dorms can be a great place. You are surrounded by activities on campus, the cafeteria, and most importantly other students who are in the same shoes you’re in and bored looking for something to do. 

Athletes love sports, so get out in the sun and play a different sport than you play and see if you can become good at it. 

Here in Joplin there are a lot of things to do and many cool places to see. I encourage each of you to branch out and open to new things and new people as you spend your time here at Southern. You never know who you’ll meet. 

You could meet your wife, a new best friend, and many other people who are looking to connect with you.