Lehigh University Athletics
From The Future: Dear First-Year Alex
5/14/2020 3:21:00 PM | Football, Student Athlete, Flight 45, Intellectual Development
Dear First-Year Alex,
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Let me first start off by telling you that by the end of this journey, your first name will evolve into "Mot." Somehow, someway that is what your teammates, classmates, coaches, professors, and even strangers around campus will know you and refer to you as throughout your four years at Lehigh. It actually does sound cooler than "Alex." Just go with it. Trust the process.
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Let's try this again…
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Dear First-Year Mot,
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I instinctively recall the day this all began - Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 2:44 p.m. It was move-in day for Lehigh football's preseason camp. If you want receipts, I still have the time stamp on one of the first pictures I took on Snapchat with my freshman year roommate and teammate, Riley O'Neil in the M&M dorm. Forewarning, it may be a daunting site to see because I was big, tall, and awkward. Viewer discretion is advised. On this day, I felt uncomfortable. I knew there were challenges ahead; ones that I could see and ones that I would be blind to. Lehigh was a new place with new people and new things. Simply put, a whole new life.
Â
I do not mean to frighten you at all, but this is the reality of your situation. It will be the most difficult, yet most rewarding experience in your life thus far – playing Division I football at a prestigious university.
Â
With that being said, I'll share with you certain values that I think you should hold steady and fall back on during your best and worst times at Lehigh: Integrity and Honesty, Commitment to Excellence, and Leadership.
Â
The first, Integrity and Honesty. There are going to be many times where you find yourself looking in the mirror not only to check yourself before heading out to parties on East 5th, but also when you feel like things are falling apart. Just Breathe! That young man standing in the reflection is going to make mistakes along the way, and the only way to grow from those mistakes is to own them. When you need further help with an assignment or film study, it starts with yourself. This is not a weakness, but rather an area of growth for you. Accept it at face value and be open and willing to turn it into a strength. This honesty will help you to be real and authentic in your relationships with your peers, coaches, and professors. You see that man in the mirror? It all starts and ends with him.
Â
The second, Commitment to Excellence. The Lehigh football staff, especially Coach Coen and Eric Markovcy, will reinforce this value throughout your four years. From the 6 a.m. spring workouts over at the field house to the midnight study sessions in FML for your exams, you will be challenged. You may sustain a few injuries on the field, including a major one that could result in you missing a crucial season, but you cannot let this stop your pursuit. You'll realize that Lehigh is going to push you to what you believe to be your limits and well beyond them. You will not be able to do everything, but the things you choose to do, complete them to the best of your ability. In doing so, excellence will become your ultimate standard. Expect and accept nothing less from yourself.
Â
The third and most impactful value, Leadership. I left this one for last because it may take some more time to truly develop this quality. In essence, you have to become a great follower before you become a true leader. The trick is you have to follow the people that lead by both word and example. I would encourage you to weigh the latter more heavily, because actions speak louder than words. Realize that being a leader is harder than being a follower because it involves holding yourself and others accountable. Throughout this process, you will have to step on some toes and you will lose "friends." Nevertheless, in order to become the one percent, you must do what the other 99 percent won't do.
Â
I must admit that writing this letter to you is challenging, but what makes it different from the emotion I felt on that August day in 2016 is that I am comfortable with that challenge. That is what Lehigh will do for you. It will require you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It is in those uncomfortable moments that you will grow and break through thresholds beyond your imagination. Lehigh will be your catalyst.
Â
You may or may not have a pandemic, like COVID-19, completely change your spring semester of senior year. However, I figured you should be prepared either way because in the blink of an eye, all of the things you take for granted during your Lehigh experience may be taken away from you. Cherish today. All we have is now, so hold onto it until tomorrow comes. Remember to thank God first. Thank your Mom, Dad, Justin, and Simone, and all of your loved ones. Thank your core group of friends that have been by your side through this journey. When it is all said and done, be sure to Thank Lehigh University for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Â
Best of luck! You got this!
Â
Senior year Mot
Â
Let me first start off by telling you that by the end of this journey, your first name will evolve into "Mot." Somehow, someway that is what your teammates, classmates, coaches, professors, and even strangers around campus will know you and refer to you as throughout your four years at Lehigh. It actually does sound cooler than "Alex." Just go with it. Trust the process.
Â
Let's try this again…
Â
Dear First-Year Mot,
Â
I instinctively recall the day this all began - Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 2:44 p.m. It was move-in day for Lehigh football's preseason camp. If you want receipts, I still have the time stamp on one of the first pictures I took on Snapchat with my freshman year roommate and teammate, Riley O'Neil in the M&M dorm. Forewarning, it may be a daunting site to see because I was big, tall, and awkward. Viewer discretion is advised. On this day, I felt uncomfortable. I knew there were challenges ahead; ones that I could see and ones that I would be blind to. Lehigh was a new place with new people and new things. Simply put, a whole new life.
Â
I do not mean to frighten you at all, but this is the reality of your situation. It will be the most difficult, yet most rewarding experience in your life thus far – playing Division I football at a prestigious university.
Â
With that being said, I'll share with you certain values that I think you should hold steady and fall back on during your best and worst times at Lehigh: Integrity and Honesty, Commitment to Excellence, and Leadership.
Â
The first, Integrity and Honesty. There are going to be many times where you find yourself looking in the mirror not only to check yourself before heading out to parties on East 5th, but also when you feel like things are falling apart. Just Breathe! That young man standing in the reflection is going to make mistakes along the way, and the only way to grow from those mistakes is to own them. When you need further help with an assignment or film study, it starts with yourself. This is not a weakness, but rather an area of growth for you. Accept it at face value and be open and willing to turn it into a strength. This honesty will help you to be real and authentic in your relationships with your peers, coaches, and professors. You see that man in the mirror? It all starts and ends with him.
Â
The second, Commitment to Excellence. The Lehigh football staff, especially Coach Coen and Eric Markovcy, will reinforce this value throughout your four years. From the 6 a.m. spring workouts over at the field house to the midnight study sessions in FML for your exams, you will be challenged. You may sustain a few injuries on the field, including a major one that could result in you missing a crucial season, but you cannot let this stop your pursuit. You'll realize that Lehigh is going to push you to what you believe to be your limits and well beyond them. You will not be able to do everything, but the things you choose to do, complete them to the best of your ability. In doing so, excellence will become your ultimate standard. Expect and accept nothing less from yourself.
Â
The third and most impactful value, Leadership. I left this one for last because it may take some more time to truly develop this quality. In essence, you have to become a great follower before you become a true leader. The trick is you have to follow the people that lead by both word and example. I would encourage you to weigh the latter more heavily, because actions speak louder than words. Realize that being a leader is harder than being a follower because it involves holding yourself and others accountable. Throughout this process, you will have to step on some toes and you will lose "friends." Nevertheless, in order to become the one percent, you must do what the other 99 percent won't do.
Â
I must admit that writing this letter to you is challenging, but what makes it different from the emotion I felt on that August day in 2016 is that I am comfortable with that challenge. That is what Lehigh will do for you. It will require you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It is in those uncomfortable moments that you will grow and break through thresholds beyond your imagination. Lehigh will be your catalyst.
Â
You may or may not have a pandemic, like COVID-19, completely change your spring semester of senior year. However, I figured you should be prepared either way because in the blink of an eye, all of the things you take for granted during your Lehigh experience may be taken away from you. Cherish today. All we have is now, so hold onto it until tomorrow comes. Remember to thank God first. Thank your Mom, Dad, Justin, and Simone, and all of your loved ones. Thank your core group of friends that have been by your side through this journey. When it is all said and done, be sure to Thank Lehigh University for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Â
Best of luck! You got this!
Â
Senior year Mot
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