By Angela Charlton, Ph.D.
Manager of Player Engagement
1. Play It Out. Always use good judgment, especially when no one is looking. If you take just a few minutes to “play it out” in your head, as in how something you are doing or contemplating doing might appear to those who could affect or influence your future, you can decide if it is worth doing. Imagine that your activity is a game clip. Would you be comfortable showing that particular “clip” to a recruiter or scout?
2. Hit Pause Before You Post and Share. When you post or share information online, pause and think hard before you share it with the world. Ask yourself some hard questions, as in why are you sharing the information – is it to show others something about yourself, are you defending yourself, angry, bitter, putting someone else down, criticizing the principal of your school, the president of the United States, your English teacher? Will your words hurt someone? If so, they will also hurt you. Think long and hard before you post something. It will be there forever, and remember: sometimes we can figuratively live and die by our own words.
3. Be the Influence. As a student-athlete, you already have other students looking at you and up to you. Use your platform as a student leader and be an example and a role model for others, especially your teammates. If you are doing community service and treating all of your classmates with respect and dignity, others will follow your example.
4. Live Up to Your Own High Standards. Chances are you already have a vision of who you want to be and how you would like others to see you. Be that person, beginning now. Being true to yourself means honoring your own values and doing what you think is the right thing.
5. Your Reputation is Everything. Reputations are built one moment at a time but can be damaged in a second. Recognize that you are already building your own reputation by what you do and say everyday. Strive to have the kind of reputation that means you are the kind of student-athlete that promotes integrity and good character in everything you do. The reputation you are building today will be with you forever. Build a good one.