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Sep 6, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs fans crowd around quarterback Blake Shapen (2) and offensive lineman Zack Owens (52) after defeating the Arizona State Sun Devilsat Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Despite their differences, sports like soccer, volleyball, and cross country, teach the same things. They help people grow, work hard, and not give up. When someone plays sports, they learn how to be strong and support others. It is not just about winning—it’s about trying their best.
Sports also bring people together. Even if someone comes from another country or place, they can play and become friends. Athletes like cross country runner Jenna Reecher, volleyball setter Brianna (Bree) Adams, and soccer striker Bailey Stillwagon show that sports help in life too, not just in games.
In cross country, runners don’t just race to beat others—they race to beat themselves. Jenna Reecher, a senior runner, says she gives her best in practice and races. “Doing the best in practice or in the race and showing effort” are the skills she admires most. For her, it’s not about winning one race. It’s about working hard every day. That helps her grow and become stronger.
This shows that success takes time. People don’t get better fast. They need to keep trying and not stop. Athletes learn to be patient and keep going even when things are hard.
In volleyball, games move quickly. One point can change everything. Adams, a senior volleyball player, talks about how someone acts after losing a point.
“When we lose the point, we have to keep going and go for the next point, and try to get better,” Adams said. “This applies outside of life because any time we are doing something challenging or something knocks someone down, they have the next moment to make it better.”
This shows how sports teach people not to give up. If someone makes a mistake, they try again. They don’t stay down—they move on and do better next time. This helps in life too, when things go wrong.
In soccer, Stillwagon values the thinking and strategy involved in the game.
“People say soccer is a lot of running,” Stillwagon said. “But it depends on everything: the position and the person we are going against […] obviously we are running a lot.”
In soccer, players need to know their position and what the other team is doing. They need to work with their teammates. This helps them think fast and make smart choices. It also shows how teams need everyone to do their part.
Moreover, sports teach people to be responsible. They come to practice, help their team, and stay focused. These things help in school and in life. They learn to stay calm and keep trying when things go wrong.
The true power of sports is not solely in the final score—it also resides in the lessons learned along the way.
Whether it’s Reecher running cross country, Adams playing volleyball, or Stillwagon in soccer, each of them show how sports help people grow. They learn to work hard, support others, and stay strong.
These lessons help in life. When someone learns to work together and not give up, life becomes better. Sports show that trying their best and staying strong is what really matters.
Even when the game ends, the lessons stay. They help in school, at work, and with friends. Athletes learn to believe in themselves and keep going. Sports make people better—even when they’re not playing.
Sports also give memories. People remember the wins, the losses, and the laughs with teammates. These moments stay forever. They make athletes proud and remind them how far they’ve come.
Sports teach how to lead and how to follow. Sometimes someone helps others, sometimes they listen. Both are important. Athletes learn to trust others and be someone others can trust too.
In the end, sports are more than games. They are part of life. They help people grow, be strong, and never give up. That is why sports matter so much.
Sometimes sports are hard. Athletes feel tired, lose games, or get hurt. But they learn to keep going. They learn that pain doesn’t last forever—and they grow stronger from it. That’s something they can use in life too. When school is tough or something bad happens, they remember how they got through hard practices or tough games.
They also learn how to work with others. In sports, no one can do everything alone. They need the team. They learn how to talk, how to listen, and how to help. That makes them a better friend and a better person.
Sports help with confidence too. Maybe someone was shy before, but after playing, they feel proud. They know they can do hard things. They believe in themselves more. That helps in school, in jobs, and in life.
And sometimes, sports are just fun. Athletes laugh, cheer, and feel happy. That joy matters too. It helps them enjoy life. Even if they don’t win, they still get something good from playing.
Sports are not just about trophies or medals. They are about learning, growing, and becoming stronger. They help in every part of life. The lessons from sports stay forever.
So if someone plays a sport, they should keep going. Try their best, help the team, and learn from every moment. And if they don’t play, maybe they should try. They might find something they love—and learn things that help them for the rest of their life.