My Experience
I absolutely loved my experience as an assistant coach. I learned so much about myself, my kind of leadership, how I work with others, and much more.
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In all honesty this project was frustrating at times. The reason I say that is because I have around four years of distance running experience from high school. I have gone from being the new kid that has no idea what to do, to the senior getting ready to go to state. It was a little frustrating when I would try and offer advice, and the parent coaches would shoot it down. However, at the same time it was a very humbling experience. I was a little arrogant when I came into it, I thought I knew it all. This did make it difficult to develop the training programs that I wanted to, since if I would have they wouldn't have been used because there was already standard training plans set for the kids.
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At the beginning I also had a hard time getting the students to listen to me. To give them the benefit of the doubt, they are in high school and love talking with their friends any chance they get. So it was difficult when I was teaching a drill or giving advice, and some of them would rather joke around and not listen. This was one of those cases in which respect is earned, not given. Over time, they did start to listen to me more; we just had to talk and get to know each other.
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Other difficulties I had were trying to get pictures of the students. Since many are minors I would have needed their parents to fill out media release forms to be photographed. I did talk to the coach about possibly developing those however, we came to the conclusion it would be too difficult to get one signed by every kids parent. Some parents would have also been a little apprehensive on the subject, which is understandable. Instead I decided to link the school's official track and field website. That way it is handled by the school who has taken the necessary precautions.
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This project helped me work on my interpersonal skills, even when we did not agree on some things. It also taught me what I like and don't like in a leader. For example, I would not like having a leader as arrogant as I was when I started the project. I would love working with a leader who isn't afraid to get in there and do the task with us.
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My project also reassured to me that I really like working and mentoring kids, specially high school aged ones. It was a really cool to experience the look in their faces when they gained confidence and knew they were going to absolutely crush the meet the next day; or when they were faster than their friends to the left and right of them. It was a very fulfilling project.
My end goal is to be a high school PE teacher. My EDGE project was an amazing learning experience, something I wouldn't have been able to do if it wasn't for SUU and the help of the EDGE Center. I know I am barely starting my carrier and have a lot to learn, there will be fun and easy times, but also difficult and frustrating times. Regardless, I'm excited to begin this teaching journey.