Let's Talk About It
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Rediscovering your Identity
Adressing and Uncovering Imposter Syndrome
Transferable Skills in Action
Who Do I want to Be?
Rediscovering your Identity
Having been a student-athlete for nearly 16 years, it was easy to fall into the trap of letting my daily routine define my identity. This routine revolved around attending classes, practicing, engaging in weight training and conditioning, eating, studying, and repeating the cycle day in and day out. While this repetitive schedule served its purpose, it led me to tie my self-worth solely to my athletic pursuits rather than to myself as an individual. As graduation approached, I began to question my value beyond sports.
Rediscovering my identity in the professional world became essential for my continued growth and success. I found myself pondering questions like "Who do I want to be perceived as?" and "What aspects of myself do I want my colleagues to recognize?" Redirecting my focus away from mastering the routine and toward self-discovery proved instrumental in charting a new path outside of sports.
Adressing and Uncovering Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome is particularly prevalent among high achievers across various fields, with athletes being no exception. The demands of sports, especially at the collegiate level, can exacerbate feelings of stress and inadequacy. This shows up in the real world when student athletes are now being compared to their peers. Oftentimes this makes space for feelings of anxiety, depression, burnout, negative self-talk, and diminished performance. Comparisons with other skilled individuals frequently lead to feelings of inferiority and self-doubt.
According to the Beverly Hills Therapy Group, such experiences may lead student-athletes to attribute their success to luck rather than their own abilities and efforts. This mindset can be very detrimental for student athletes transitioning into the real world, and can eventually lead to burnout. Additionally, this is why it is important to recognize and address imposter syndrome when it surfaces.
We all deal with it, so what are we doing about it?
Transferable Skills in Action
Transferable skills encompass abilities acquired over time that are valuable to employers across different professions and sectors. Student athletes often cultivate such skills through years of training and competition. In addition to acknowledging these transferable skills, it is crucial to understand their relevance and apply them:
Identify examples of transferable skills developed as a student athlete that closely align with your own skill development.
Some examples may include: ability to learn from failure, mental toughness, and making quick decisions in real time.
Reflect on which skills are most pertinent to the opportunity at hand. When reviewing a job description or graduate school application, pinpoint the transferable skills from your own repertoire that align best with the opportunity.
Pay close attention to keywords and examples provided within the description. Make it a habit to perform this analysis each time you apply for a new opportunity.
Articulate these skills in your resume and cover letter, providing explanations for how they apply.
Look at the examples below:
Discipline: Maintained equilibrium between rigorous academic commitments and devoting over 30 hours weekly to athletic games, practices, training, and travel.
Cross team collaboration: Collaborated effectively with a team of (insert number) teammates to achieve specific team objectives, such as winning tournaments or improving team cohesion.
Efficiency: Developed efficient productivity strategies enabling me to accomplish tasks in a shorter timeframe.
Match these skills to specific experiences, elaborating on them with supporting details. Identify the transferable skills you have experienced with the experiences outlined in the opportunity and be able to speak on it.