Lehigh University Athletics
Project Perspective
5/22/2018 11:30:00 AM | Field Hockey, Student Athlete, Features
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
Collegiate athletics is demanding. It takes a huge commitment.
It's easy to get lost in the challenges that one faces as a student-athletes. With that in mind, the Lehigh field hockey program created "Project Perspective" this spring.
"Project Perspective began as an activity brought forth by the coaches during a tough exam week mid season," said Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer. "We saw the team being impacted by the stressors that come with being a student-athlete: exams, fatigue, time management, and securing summer internships. One day before practice, we did a quick activity asking the team to write down the last 10 things that they complained about in order to recognize the things we were consistently taking for granted. That brief activity further developed into Project Perspective, an effort to help spread gratitude across campus by stating how grateful we were for the things we experience daily here at Lehigh."
"When I heard about Projective Prospective I thought it was such a great idea," said rising sophomore Anna Mostoller, who also works a part-time job on campus. "Making a literal list of things you are grateful for is most definitely not the first thing you think of when you think of an assignment or project for an athletic team, but it's so incredibly relevant to not only Lehigh field hockey, but also collegiate culture in general.
"Our whole team, and anyone who is attending college for that matter, is beyond lucky to be able to pursue higher education," Mostoller continued. "Too often, you hear the complaints about school, work, a busy schedule or other first-world problems, when in reality, those are problems less-fortunate people dream of having as opposed to whatever it may be that they are facing."
The Mountain Hawks came up with a number of things they are grateful for, which were highlighted on Lehigh field hockey's social media pages.
The project should have a direct translation to the playing field.
"Project Perspective ties into field hockey in that it serves as a reminder to be grateful for the challenge," said Mostoller. "Being a student-athlete at the Division I level comes with its tough days, as I'm sure any one of the amazing student-athletes here at Lehigh can attest to. But those challenges are not only what make it all worth it, but also challenges that we should be incredibly thankful to have because they are making us better every day."
The Lehigh field hockey program has big aspirations and has big-picture goals in mind, looking to eventually reach heights it has never reached before. To do that, the student-athletes, coaches and entire program must have the right mindset, creating a foundation for future success. Without the right mindset, a team can only go so far.
That's where Project Perspective entered the picture, understanding that the challenges the Mountain Hawks face on a daily basis are extremely small, compared to what some people face.
"It's so easy to forget how lucky we are to be at such a respected school and be playing for a great program, and I think Project Perspective re-centered us," said rising sophomore Maddie Leavitt. "It wasn't difficult to come up with things we are grateful for, but it made us realize how many things we take for granted."
"A lot of things that made it on our list are so commonly overlooked on a day-to-day basis, like having food and a place to sleep," said Mostoller. "At first, it was a little tough to think of some of those things because they were almost too obvious. After putting a decent amount of thought into what we truly were grateful for, it was definitely not hard to come up with an exhaustive list, even if they were things we didn't think about every day.
"Project Prospective has made me realize just how big the 'little things' actually are," Mostoller continued. "It can be so easy to take things for granted, hence Project Prospective served as a nice reminder to always look around at what you have, no matter how seemingly small, and be appreciative."
As a team, the Lehigh field hockey program is making strides. From day one, head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer stressed that by doing the little things right, it sets you up for bigger success.
One example is studying film. Spending the time needed to prepare in the film room is part of the foundation for success.
"If our whole team could really buy into a culture in which we are all just beyond grateful for every opportunity we have – for every time we step onto the field for a 6 a.m. practice and for every game we are lucky enough to play in a Lehigh uniform – there would be few times in which people failed to give 100 percent," said Mostoller.
"Playing a collegiate sport is a privilege not many people get to experience," said Leavitt. "Being a part of a great team of talented women is empowering and something I am grateful for."
"Going into next year, it is my goal to keep all of these things I'm grateful for in mind, especially during hard times when it feels natural to complain about how busy or tired I feel," said Mostoller. "Our time as Lehigh students and athletes is finite, so it only makes sense to give absolutely everything you have every time you step on the field, on the line, or up to any other challenge you've been presented with."
Collegiate athletics is demanding. It takes a huge commitment.
It's easy to get lost in the challenges that one faces as a student-athletes. With that in mind, the Lehigh field hockey program created "Project Perspective" this spring.
"Project Perspective began as an activity brought forth by the coaches during a tough exam week mid season," said Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer. "We saw the team being impacted by the stressors that come with being a student-athlete: exams, fatigue, time management, and securing summer internships. One day before practice, we did a quick activity asking the team to write down the last 10 things that they complained about in order to recognize the things we were consistently taking for granted. That brief activity further developed into Project Perspective, an effort to help spread gratitude across campus by stating how grateful we were for the things we experience daily here at Lehigh."
"When I heard about Projective Prospective I thought it was such a great idea," said rising sophomore Anna Mostoller, who also works a part-time job on campus. "Making a literal list of things you are grateful for is most definitely not the first thing you think of when you think of an assignment or project for an athletic team, but it's so incredibly relevant to not only Lehigh field hockey, but also collegiate culture in general.
"Our whole team, and anyone who is attending college for that matter, is beyond lucky to be able to pursue higher education," Mostoller continued. "Too often, you hear the complaints about school, work, a busy schedule or other first-world problems, when in reality, those are problems less-fortunate people dream of having as opposed to whatever it may be that they are facing."
The Mountain Hawks came up with a number of things they are grateful for, which were highlighted on Lehigh field hockey's social media pages.
- I am grateful for how difficult my classes are because they are preparing me to compete for the career that I want to have in the near future.
- I am grateful for early morning practices because in some countries, women are banned from playing any sport at any time of day.
- I am grateful for the long hours of studying I need to put into my classes to be successful at Lehigh because I know these four years will help set me up for a lifetime of future success.
- I am grateful for 6 a.m. practice because there is no better way to start my day than with my team and coaches, who are working to help me by my best.
- I am grateful for the time it takes to drive over the mountain because it is the most picturesque part of my day.
- I am grateful for how exhausted I am after practice because I know I have a healthy body that I can push to great limits, and not everyone is as fortunate.
- I grateful for the number of stairs on Lehigh's campus because they serve as a consistent reminder that I have an able body that can walk them.
- I am grateful for hard practices because I will never know what my body is capable of unless I have the opportunity to push myself and find out.
The project should have a direct translation to the playing field.
"Project Perspective ties into field hockey in that it serves as a reminder to be grateful for the challenge," said Mostoller. "Being a student-athlete at the Division I level comes with its tough days, as I'm sure any one of the amazing student-athletes here at Lehigh can attest to. But those challenges are not only what make it all worth it, but also challenges that we should be incredibly thankful to have because they are making us better every day."
The Lehigh field hockey program has big aspirations and has big-picture goals in mind, looking to eventually reach heights it has never reached before. To do that, the student-athletes, coaches and entire program must have the right mindset, creating a foundation for future success. Without the right mindset, a team can only go so far.
That's where Project Perspective entered the picture, understanding that the challenges the Mountain Hawks face on a daily basis are extremely small, compared to what some people face.
"It's so easy to forget how lucky we are to be at such a respected school and be playing for a great program, and I think Project Perspective re-centered us," said rising sophomore Maddie Leavitt. "It wasn't difficult to come up with things we are grateful for, but it made us realize how many things we take for granted."
"A lot of things that made it on our list are so commonly overlooked on a day-to-day basis, like having food and a place to sleep," said Mostoller. "At first, it was a little tough to think of some of those things because they were almost too obvious. After putting a decent amount of thought into what we truly were grateful for, it was definitely not hard to come up with an exhaustive list, even if they were things we didn't think about every day.
"Project Prospective has made me realize just how big the 'little things' actually are," Mostoller continued. "It can be so easy to take things for granted, hence Project Prospective served as a nice reminder to always look around at what you have, no matter how seemingly small, and be appreciative."
As a team, the Lehigh field hockey program is making strides. From day one, head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer stressed that by doing the little things right, it sets you up for bigger success.
One example is studying film. Spending the time needed to prepare in the film room is part of the foundation for success.
"If our whole team could really buy into a culture in which we are all just beyond grateful for every opportunity we have – for every time we step onto the field for a 6 a.m. practice and for every game we are lucky enough to play in a Lehigh uniform – there would be few times in which people failed to give 100 percent," said Mostoller.
"Playing a collegiate sport is a privilege not many people get to experience," said Leavitt. "Being a part of a great team of talented women is empowering and something I am grateful for."
"Going into next year, it is my goal to keep all of these things I'm grateful for in mind, especially during hard times when it feels natural to complain about how busy or tired I feel," said Mostoller. "Our time as Lehigh students and athletes is finite, so it only makes sense to give absolutely everything you have every time you step on the field, on the line, or up to any other challenge you've been presented with."
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