Top 5 Things I Learned from the Olympics

I bet you’ve been waiting for this kind of post, huh? Admittedly, I am a bit of a sports fanatic, especially when it comes to track and field events…where I eventually hope to compete someday.

But, I actually wasn’t going to do this kind of post—I’m sure most people are kind of tired of all the Olympics (especially my grandma who has been waiting for her favourite show to come back on—America’s Got Talent.) And maybe I’m a little burnt out too. But the other day, Grandpa and I were chatting about my school year goals, and he said, “Go for gold, son. To succeed, think like an Olympian!”

It seemed like a strange comment, until I really started thinking about some of the things I’d learned from watching the Olympics—and then how I could apply those lessons to school. In no particular order, here are my top 5:

1. Take challenge in stride. One thing Olympic athletes know how to do is pick themselves up when they fall—no matter how many times they get knocked down, they get back up again. How does that apply to school? No one would ever accuse me of being a math genius, but I’m going to challenge myself to get 80% this year. It’s okay if I don’t make it. I’ll brush myself off and try again...next year.
2. Never give up. Everyone fails at some point—even Einstein, who is considered one of the smartest people in the world. Whether it’s mastering my personal best on the field, trying out for that school play, or acing my first math test, I am going to keep trying until I WIN.
3. Know yourself. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I may not be a marathon runner, but I can run my grandpa’s canola field in 10 minutes flat. It would be silly for me to sign up for long distance running this year—but I can definitely work harder at my sprint. 
4. Don’t be afraid. When we give into fear, we can lose out on opportunities. This year, I’m not going to be afraid to try something new, or find a fresh way to tackle something that’s hard. I may even write a novel—wouldn’t THAT be golden?
5. You are a champion. This is an important one. Every single athlete who competed in the Olympics is a “champion” no matter whether they stood on the podium or not—but you don’t have to be the best swimmer in the world (*cough Michael Phelps cough *) to be a champion. Every smile, random act of kindness, or hug makes you a champion to someone. EMBRACE IT!

Okay, I gotta jet! This is my last weekend before school starts and I’m going to enjoy it—a family BBQ, hours of reading, a couple more rounds of Pokemon Go, and an epic school supply trip, which is always my favourite part of the year. I LOVE new notebooks! Have a great weekend.

~ Chase Superman Duffy