Grade 9 students in the Collective Voice program at Aden Bowman Collegiate share their lives and opinions through columns. Selected columns run each Monday in the StarPhoenix.
Grade 9 students in the Collective Voice program at Aden Bowman Collegiate share their lives and opinions through columns. Selected columns run each Monday in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
When I am older, I want to have the confidence of Wayne Gretzky and Hayley Wickenheiser.
Does playing a team sport increase self-confidence? Some people may think it will. This could be because of many different things, such as learning how to work with others, coping with success and failure, and being accountable to yourself and others. All of these skills can be used in real-life situations. In the end, these skills help increase self-confidence.
Studies show that sports and other physical activities can contribute to the development of self-esteem. For example, Canadian scientists found that students in sixth grade who were more physically active had considerably higher levels of self-esteem.
All of my good friendships have been built through my participation in physical activities. This has contributed to me having increased self-confidence in different social situations. Many of my coaches have provided me with opportunities to succeed and face adversity, which has influenced me positively.
As a leader or a team player, you are trusted to help your teammates when they are having ups and downs, and you are there to support them. Players will then look up to you. You are learning to accept and respect people’s opinions and skills.
Playing a team sport can help you cope with success and failure. Failure shapes better people, because it can be turned into motivation. In life, everyone will have their struggles, but by playing a team sport, you will learn how to get back up and try again.
Success will help you become a better person because it boosts your self-confidence to work harder and become an even more successful person. People with positive self-esteem are more able to cope with success and failure, not only in sports, but in life. Winning is fun, but not the main goal.
The main goal is to have fun and improve every day. All you have to do is put in effort.
By playing a team sport you can also learn to use your time wisely. For example, I was assigned homework on the same day I had a hockey practice, and I had to figure out when I could complete my assignment, and learn how to manage my time wisely.
At some point in your life, you’ll be thrown a curveball. You need to know how to deal with a challenge.
I have learned that being accountable, learning how to cope with success and failure, and learning how to use your time wisely can all increase self-confidence while playing a team sport.
I wrote about my personal experience in sports, and this has helped me become more confident. Someday, I might just have the confidence of Wayne Gretzky and Hayley Wickenheiser.