From The Future: Dear First-Year Harrison...

Dear First-Year Harrison,

Congratulations man! The countdown is on. In eight days, you're going to graduate and in 61 days, you're getting married. You know that gorgeous girl you're dating? She's going to be your wife. Crazy, right? Life moves fast, so buckle up. This experience is going to be over before you know it. Today I moved some things into your (our) new house and guess what I found? Your freshman year goals. I laughed when I turned the pages of your old notebook to see the four infamous goal categories: Spiritual, Intellectual, Physical and Social.

Let's talk about your "goals" for a second. They are going to change. I know that doesn't seem like something you'd tolerate now, but take a breath. This will be ok. Something you will learn is that college is hard. You are going to hit roadblocks in your personal, academic and athletic life that will rock you to your core. Don't be afraid of them. Instead, embrace everything this school throws at you. When things get hard remember why you chose Lehigh. You are rooted here because you want to grow and you want to expand your potential. That said, I want to give you some insight that will help to get you started. Here goes nothing!

Big change starts with small steps
Right now four years seems like an eternity, but trust me it's not. Your senior year will be here before you know it so you need to be hyper-aware of your impact on others. One thing is certain; there will be times when you look in the mirror and don't like the man who is staring back at you. So take inventory of both your positive and negative attributes immediately and make changes when you need to. Leaving a positive impact doesn't start with drastic action, but small steps that lead to steady progression. When you decide what you want to do here, start with "the little things" and pursue them fiercely. One thing you will learn is that people overestimate their ability to make short impacts, and underestimate their potential for lasting change. The point I'm trying to make here is that your legacy is a product of intentional action. It requires you to take responsibility of the areas you fall short. If you make small progress on a daily basis, you will look back in four years proud of the man you have become.

Your microphone is always on
This is something you heard in church just before you left for college, but I want to reiterate the saying. No matter who you are, where you are, or what you're doing, someone is always listening. That is a lot of responsibility, and trust me your "microphone" will get you into trouble more than once during your four years here. That said, I want to encourage you. Even as a walk-on, you have a voice that will impact your team and beyond. When you speak, people are listening. Don't waste this opportunity. Keep your eyes open for moments when you can encourage people, hold others accountable, and be a beacon of positivity. Recognize when the things you say are forging positive change, and be wary of when they start to tear others down. Unfortunately, having a microphone on at all times means that you have the power to ruin relationships in an instant. You have a big mouth and you get frustrated easily, so stay away from gossip. You are a leader. As a leader we have agreed to only be caught talking about other people positively. Remember, the things you say are important so choose your words wisely.

It's OK when things don't go your way
Brace yourself buddy, you're going to fail in college… A lot. Heartbreak is part of growth, and sometimes you need to be humbled in order to reach your full potential. Show up as your best every day regardless of your pain. You owe it to your team and you owe it to yourself. There will be days when you miss tackles, days when you miss in leadership, and days when you let others down. That is ok. Each failure is an opportunity for growth. Make sure that you are positive regardless of the circumstances. Part of college is figuring out who you are. Well, when things are going great it is easy to do the right thing. There will be times when you feel like quitting on your coaches, your teammates, and even yourself. Don't! You need to endure some pain to figure out what you believe and who you are.

Conviction Earns Respect
Sometimes sticking to your guns feels lonely. There are times when you are going to question what you believe and why you believe it. It will be hard work at first, but standing firmly against the crowds that pull you in different directions will become the reason that people respect you. Leadership is often measured by the way we communicate or perform. That said, the most important attribute is often missed, leaders are those who have a vision for their teams. That is why we as leaders must be relentless in our convictions. People respond negatively when they are asked to change. It is our challenge and our responsibility as leaders to identify those changes that need to be made and pursue them with passion. People will listen to you when they understand your vision. Learn how to communicate it and learn how to fight for it. If you do that, your conviction will give you credibility and respect. Be authentic when you speak and stay firmly rooted in your moral values when you act. Trust me, this is the hardest part about leadership. When you look back in four years, you will never regret the passionate pursuit of your vision regardless of setbacks.

Like I said: here goes nothing! Enjoy it!

Future Harrison

Lehigh University Athletics

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