Ashley Briggs
What Will You Be Willing to Sacrifice?
Sacrifice. There were countless sacrifices that were made for basketball, and every collegiate athlete understands this. Dedicating your youth to a sport you both love but can “hate” at the same time comes at a price. However, I would argue that the price paid is in the short-term, whereas the lessons you learn from those sacrifices are lessons to be had for a lifetime.
Looking at where I am today, a few years post-collegiate basketball, I can confidently say that without basketball and learning to sacrifice at a young age, or experience that discomfort or enduring the struggles that follow, my adult life would be difficult to bear. Without sacrifice, we struggle to learn to make tough decisions. Without sacrifice, nothing great is ever accomplished.
Collegiate sports are nothing less than demanding. It takes a special and strong-willed personality to maintain that focus and make constant sacrifices. And you’re not only making sacrifices for yourself, but you’re also making them for your team, your school, your community, etc. That said, speaking for myself, these sacrifices were made as an investment for my future. I was fortunate enough to have inspiring coaches throughout my life (my dad in particular) who helped me think ahead. They helped me to understand the difference between a wise sacrifice and a bad one. A wise sacrifice is one where you delay gratification now for something better in your future – in my case, putting in years of blood, sweat, and tears to land a full-scholarship at an incredibly well-respected academic school, in one of the most competitive D2 leagues in the Nation. Leaving me with no debt to get a head start on my adult life, which proved to be successful as I just purchased my first home at 24 years old. On the flip side, a bad sacrifice is choosing something that feels good in the moment but can negatively impact your future.
All that said – every athlete has setbacks, and every athlete has their shining moment. It’s a rollercoaster ride, this I know. From being #12 on a 13-player team to being a starter and captain on a team that won the Regional Finals and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in the school’s history. Stay the course. Although you’re living in the moment, there’s a bigger picture.
Ashley Briggs
IG: @ashley_briggs21