Fostering a positive mindset has been prevalent in many aspects of my life. I have found that maintaining an optimistic outlook has allowed me to convert negative feelings and energy into something positive. Outlets such as community service and outreach have allowed me to focus my time and energy on projects that positively impact my community while bringing awareness to those in need.

Positivity is something that not only affects yourself, but those around you. Compassion is a trait I strive to practice daily, as you never truly know what someone is going through. It is often easy to get caught up in what is happening in your personal life, but it is important to remember that your actions and attitude can impact others. Simple gestures like opening the door for someone, offering help on a task or sharing a smile with a stranger can make a significant difference in their day.

My time with Don Yaeger’s Corporate Competitor podcast highlighted how the lessons we learn from sport are reflected in day to day life. One lesson that particularly sticks out to me is that of resilience. In sport, injuries and losses can not only affect an athlete’s physicality, but also their mentality. I have learned that while you cannot change the past, you always have the strength to get back up and try again. The idea of resilience is one that I find most prevalent in my life, as it reminds me to keep moving forward at times where I might feel discouraged.

In my academic and professional pursuits, maintaining a positive outlook has been vital in understanding personal challenges. When faced with obstacles, such as a test or presentation, it is often easy to get caught up in the idea of failure. Changing my perspective on the idea of failure from one of deterrence to one of growth and opportunity has allowed me to look back on past situations as lessons rather than hindrance. Instead of giving up because things did not go my way, I instead take the time to think about what went wrong and what I can change going forward. This allows me to evaluate my efforts positively rather than dwelling on the outcome.