If you don’t play the game, how will you know if you win or lose? You can’t achieve something without taking a risk.
During the summer of 2015, I had an internship at the National Baseball Congress World Series, a 60-game baseball tournament over 14 days held in my hometown. Nothing I had experienced so far in the sports would prepare me for that summer (more details on this in a future blog). The NBC was going through a lot of changes as an organization, so the other two interns and I that summer got a lot of responsibilities put on our shoulders.
One evening at a work function I had a conversation with my boss that would change my perspective on working in sports. He talked to me about how a lot of people from my hometown would end up back living their lives not far from where they grew up. He went on to say he thought I was not going to land in that category, but I had to work on something.
He told me I needed to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
That phrase has stayed with me and is something I’m working on daily. It is something that does not come easy to a girl from a small town in Kansas that lives three states away from home, but my boss five years ago was right, and he is right today.
You can’t live in a bubble. You can’t let your fear of the unknown or what people might think make your decisions. You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
That includes moving three states away, messaging someone to ask a question about a graphic, making new friends or speaking out against things that you do not agree with.
I think this phrase was brought up in my mind again, because of the current events going on in the world. Being okay with speaking out against racism and sticking up for people of color in our country. Knowing you might not have the right things to say but being willing to step out of your comfort zone and learn and ask questions.
Working in athletics I would do anything I could to support my student-athletes, so why would I not speak out during this time?
I’m not going to pretend like I have any answers, but I know this is a time to stand up and stand together.
Here are some links to help educate, donate, and support the Black Lives Matter Movement:
- Emily McMillan (emily_mcm16)
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