Reyne R.

Photograph provided by Reyne R.

If you’re reading this, know you are more than your sport; you are every action/emotion/thought that makes you, you.

Every athlete faces the challenge of balancing their identity with their performance in their chosen sport. Society often places a disproportionate emphasis on the outcomes as a measure of your worth. However, the reality is you aren’t going to be known by someone who scored the game winning goal, missed a free throw, struck out, won a race etc. You are going to be known as a teammate that brings light into the locker room, you are going to be known as a child that makes their parents unbelievably proud, you are going to be known as a friend who is always there for others, you are going to be known as the person you are, not the performance you put out.

In the relentless pursuit of success, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters: the value of self-worth, mental well-being, and the fulfillment found in your relationship with your sport. Success and failure will always be temporary but the core of who you are — your passions, your values, your connections — remains steadfast.

True fulfillment lies not in the medals that line your walls but in the depth of your character, the relationships you have built with your teammates, and the personal growth you have experienced. As an athlete, but more importantly as an individual, you must strive to embrace just how complex your identity is; your existence goes beyond the confines of your sport.

If you’re reading this, know that while your stats showcase your winnings vs losses, your true stats are written in the lives you’ve touched, the teammates you have enriched and the person you have become. Embrace all of your worth, cause you are worthy way beyond the outcomes of your sport.

Reyne R., Cornell University

Cornell University Women’s Track & Field

Team Canada Pan American Games

Dear student athletes, you are strong, capable, and resilient. We are here to support you on your journey. From around the country, five student athletes have come together for a letter series to offer their open support by sharing their unique, beautiful, and individual stories. Their mission is to create a safe community for student athletes to be there for one another through all the challenges and glories. Your mental and physical health matter and you are not alone.

Letter series facilitated and edited by Gabrielle Pack & Rachael Holp.