College is college, but College without athletics would not be the same. There would be no spirit, no synergy amongst the students. You definitely would not see myself in college without the role of athletics in my life. After attending a total of 4 colleges the relationships, I have developed through sports has been my backbone to continuing my career. Life is hard and it does not get any easier. Sports are our release from all the stress and daily tasks required upon us with schoolwork.

Learning how to adapt is crucial for supporting our success in life. Through my experiences of 4 colleges Green Mountain has played a pivotal role in my maturity as a leader, but more importantly as a man.

I use to worry about where I would fit in as a student athlete here, because I knew going in that GMC was sort of known as a hippy school where sports was not valued. I quickly learned that it was more than just that. There was no leadership in the department of basketball. There was not a winning mentality or feel when stepping into the gym. I would look in the gym in disgust because there was minimal banners in the gym.

This year was the first time in over a decade or more that the basketball team has won the conference. We have earned ourselves rings through hard work. Everyday was a battle we handled adversity day in and day out whether it was traveling away to other games or handling mistreatment from officials. We handled it all and it made our team better men and better leaders from that.

The amount of individuals I have met through all my other schools is infinite. Coaches, administrators, directors, presidents etc, all of my old schools took pride in their athletics. They wanted to win. They recruited they kept their weight room clean, and coaches were strict on principles. Athletes were pushed day in day out. Coming to GMC, it was so laid back, and it’s easy to cut corners here or cheat a drill. The lack of quality facilities discourages student athletes to workout on a consistent basis. That must change. It is disappointing that we don’t reward our athletes the way we should here. With no athletics here they would be no school, and that goes all around the country. Athletics are an integral part of a culture, an identity. We are ultimately one body.

Here at gmc the basketball team did not have one body it was small individuals whom didn’t see a common goal. nothing important was advocated enough. No goals, no value system, nothing. Coming in from my old college my coach made us hold each other accountable. We had hill sprints, tutors, everything. It was not an outrageous amount of money it just required the staff to communicate more. That naturally creates a vision that can be developed if everyone is on the same page. It is a commitment. You have to be disciplined and work hard or you won’t make the grades necessary to stay eligible. Also, there is no better place to learn the skills of selflessness and leadership than on the playing field or court. Winning with respect, losing with dignity and learning from both are lessons that last a lifetime.