KP

Why Lacrosse is on My Résumé

by Katelyn Pearson

11/7/2019 9:30:00 AM

I am beyond grateful to share my experience with whoever will take the time to read this. I hope that for my fellow student-athletes you can be reminded of why you play and for fans, alum, and parents I hope you see why we play, and that it is beyond what you see on the turf.

To tell you a little bit about myself, my name is Katelyn Pearson, more often referred to as “Kp”, and I am a senior social work major and midfielder on the women’s lacrosse team at Messiah College. While both of those things are huge parts of me, they are a foundation for all of the other pieces in my life. I am also a Student Career Coach at the Career and Professional Development Center, a Social Work Diplomat, Student Athlete Advisory Committee representative, and involved in other activities around campus.

While I am involved in other extracurricular activities, I would argue that playing lacrosse at Messiah is the highlight of my résumé. Below is a snippet from my personal résumé and how I chose to represent the skills I have acquired through my time as a student-athlete to a potential employer:

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
            Athlete, Messiah College Women’s Lacrosse, Mechanicsburg, PA, August 2016-Present
                    - Coordinated clinic events and camp events twice a year
                    - Developed communication skills with individuals of differing strengths
                    - Hosted potential program recruits and inform families of team dynamics and operations
                    - Managed fundraising and outreach initiatives
                    - Contributed to a flourishing and successful culture as a leader and team player
                    - Exhibited the ability to receive constructive criticism and high levels of coachability

These are just some of the valuable experiences and transferable skills that I chose to highlight from being a member of the amazing women’s lacrosse program at Messiah College. The reason I chose to talk about why lacrosse is on my résumé is because I often hear from my fellow athletes (and often think myself) that life as a student-athlete is hard, really hard, and I wonder if I am missing out on professional development opportunities because I am pouring so much into lacrosse. But I want everyone to see the incredible, irreplaceable value that participating in a collegiate sport can provide.

The few components that I described in my résumé are not the only skills that are attainable through a life of sport but, there are many more. Over the summer I wrote a list of all of the ways I believed lacrosse had helped me grow spiritually, personally, and professionally. The summer can be the hardest training season for a student-athlete; you are no longer physically with your team, workouts are strenuous, competition is months away, and you are usually working. I had been in a funk my first couple weeks back home. I was working two jobs and training every day, with limited down time in between. I sat in my chair at work and kept asking myself, “Why am I doing this?” and, “Is this REALLY benefiting me in the long run?”. So I wrote a list of the reasons why playing was more than just for what I saw at face value, playing lacrosse at Messiah College developed:

  • Hard work, discipline, and commitment
  • Time management and organization skills
  • Responsibility and accountability
  • Resiliency
  • Ability to work individually as well as part of a team
  • Utilize conflict resolution skills
  • Interpersonal communication skills
  • Teaching
  • Receiving and giving constructive criticism
  • Public speaking
  • Self-assessment/awareness
  • Experience of traveling
  • Confidence and competence
  • Offered support systems
  • Instilled morals and values
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I want everyone to see the incredible, irreplaceable value that participating in a collegiate sport can provide.

I am sure I am missing a ton of other transferable skills that I have gained over my time as a student-athlete but, I do not go a day without imploring at least one of these skills.

Not only can I use them in the classroom but also on the turf and in the professional world as well. As a student-athlete I have the opportunity to be around amazing female leaders and see how then handle feedback, so now when I receive criticism regarding a class project, on my interviewing skills (I tend to talk REALLY fast), or my performance on the field, I have seen great examples of how to react and grow. Without a tangible example from amazing female student-athletes in a safe environment, from the most connected group I have ever been part of, these skills may have not been developed.

After seeing a positive reaction from when someone criticizes your work, I am able to use that feedback to better myself. Then, I am able to build off of these skills and I continue to have the confidence to use these skills in my courses, at work, and in my social work field placements out in the community.

I am doing this all while imploring my time management and organization skills to give 100% at my jobs, on my assignments, with my friends, and in my sport. In addition to receiving and giving constructive criticism, through sport, I have been able to obtain a level of self-awareness that I never thought possible. My coach always says, “You can do more than you think”, which I have clung to at my time at Messiah.

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I have learned the limits of myself physically, emotionally, and mentally but, have also seen when I can do more and push further to achieve my goals. I know the things that trigger me and how to overcome those obstacles, when I need time to myself or when I need to surround myself with the love of friends and family, and when I know I need help. Without a keen self-understanding it can be very difficult and stressful when living life. You can become self-doubtful, isolated, and withdrawn but, through understanding who I am and all of the parts of me I am able to process and work through most challenges.

This is why when student-athletes visit the Career and Professional Development Center and they are struggling to find a place for their sport on their résumé, I dive a little deeper. Come to find these student-athletes are serving in third-world countries, developing training curriculum for their teams, running events, and winning awards and I see a lightbulb go off in their heads. “Wow, I am not just playing a sport. I am doing so much more.” 

We are doing so much more.

I believe that any level of sport can help foster these skills in anyone but, this is what Messiah College Women’s Lacrosse has done for me. I am so honored to be part of this program and I am so grateful to my coaches, alum, and anyone who has ever poured into me or the women's lacrosse program.

I am so honored to be part of this program and I am so grateful to my coaches, alum, and anyone who has ever poured into me or the women's lacrosse program.

Without lacrosse I wouldn’t be pursuing graduate school.
Without lacrosse I wouldn’t be part of a team of women that will be the best friends I ever have.
Without lacrosse I wouldn’t feel strong, resilient, or disciplined.

Without lacrosse my life would be very different so, that is why I play and why I include lacrosse on my résumé.

Thank you so much for allowing me to share my story and come visit me in the Career and Professional Development Center or catch one of our games!

pearson_katelyn

Katelyn Pearson '20
Women's Lacrosse