6/7/2019 11:17:00 AM | Baseball, Student Athlete, Intellectual Development
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Dear First-Year Ryan,
Welcome to Lehigh!
I am sure you are extremely nervous right now; nervous about meeting new people, stepping out of your comfort zone and ultimately for what the future holds. While this is completely normal, don't be. Lehigh will be the most rewarding experience of your life. You will accomplish things that you never thought were possible, meet some of your best friends, and most importantly, create life-lasting memories.
However, there is nothing to truly prepare you for the journey you are about to embark upon. There will be times where you want to give up, believing that you are not good enough and that some things are simply "not meant to be." I challenge you to persevere, and to craft your own story – a story that is defined by hard-work and positivity.
Being a Lehigh student-athlete is truly a privilege, so enjoy every second of it. Embrace the late nights studying in FML, the 10-hour long bus rides to the Carolinas and the grueling workouts in Cundey. While it may not be apparent at the time, all of these will make you a stronger, more mature man than you are today.
Below are some tips that can serve as your roadmap over the next few years. While some of them are brutally honest, I am hoping they can ease your nerves and allow you to make the most of your Lehigh Athletics' experience.
High School is in the Past
No one cares about who you were in high school. All your high school accomplishments are in the past, so please leave them behind. Lehigh is filled with people just like you, who have excelled both academically and athletically their entire lives – students who were the top of their class, all-state athletes and involved in countless extra-curricular activities. You are not special.
Instead of being discouraged, use this as an opportunity. This will be one of the only opportunities in life where you are surrounded by some of the most gifted people in the world, who are also the same age. Get to know them and learn from them.
Attack Every Day
Your time at Lehigh will fly by, so be sure to take advantage of every day you get. You will spend roughly 1,000 days on this beautiful campus, so it should be your goal to better yourself during every single one. Whether it be through spending extra time at the field, stopping by a professor's office, or networking with alumni, I promise that you will grow tremendously.
Learn How to Be a Good Teammate
I hate to break it to you, but you will not be a four-year starter here. While you are a good player, you will play on extremely talented teams with players who are much better than you. However, this should not stop you from being the best teammate as possible and being "bought-in" to everything the team preaches.
Find a way to help the team, even when you are not on the field. Follow guys like Anthony Rinaldi, who go out of their way to forge a meaningful relationship with every player on the team. Emulate leaders such as Buck Schwab, who bring contagious energy on the bench and motivate those on the field. Great teammates are as crucial to winning a championship as are great players. If you cannot be one, make sure you are the other. Anthony RinaldiBuck Schwab
Bask in Every Opportunity
One day not too long from now, you will no longer be able to play baseball at a competitive level. It has been an integral part of your life since you were four, so it will be extremely difficult to "hang up the spikes." Thus, every time you are on the diamond, play your heart out. If you make an error or strike out, shake it off. If you hit a home run or make a diving catch, stay humble and don't let it get to your head. You need to make sure you are in the moment every single season, game, inning and pitch; you only get a finite amount of each.
Enjoy every moment with your teammates; they will be your family over the next four years. When you are an upperclassman, make sure to mentor those who are in the early stages of their Lehigh careers, as they will be as nervous as you are right now. It is important to continue the legacy of those that came before you, and to "pass the torch" to those who come after. You will always be a part of the "LUBE" family, never forget that.
Above all else, stay close to your roots. Despite being away from home for the first time in your life, your family will still serve as your biggest support system.
