Harpe: Sports as a tutor for life lessons

Corine Harpe

As we get further into this season, I am beginning to realize that fall may be my favorite time of the year. It is not so much the pumpkins, the crispness in the air, not even the natural appearance of my favorite orange hue; instead it's the start of the new year for sports.

Years spent in the world of education have caused me to equate the new year with the start of school rather than Jan. 1. I have never been a follower of professional sports, but I still relate the athletic season to the start of the school year. The sadness I feel about the end of warm weather and summer relaxation is quickly replaced by the anticipation of who will be the best and what drama will ensue in the upcoming season.

As I have expressed in past columns, much of this exhilaration comes from my love of college football. This year, however, I have had the privilege of observing an array of new sports, such as the Women's World Cup soccer team.

I have felt a bit guilty for not being able to participate as a spectator in the burgeoning Chattanooga soccer scene, and I have been beyond impressed by the established fanbase. I loved the Women's World Cup game in Chattanooga, but was especially dazzled by the enthusiasm shown for the Women's World Cup team in general.

This excitement for women's athletics is another guilt of mine because I feel like I could be a bigger fan and encourage it more. At the same time, I don't know if constantly highlighting the difference between men's and women's athletics is beneficial for women's sports.

Another event that inspired me and solidified my love of athleticism was the latest Ironman triathlon. Lucky for me, my apartment entrance is on Riverside Drive, so I could simply walk outside and be right in the action.

Ten minutes of planned observing turned into two hours as I watched the runners pass by. As someone who dreaded the elementary and middle school mile run that was a part of the annual physical fitness test - and except for a brief stint in soccer - I have avoided running since that time, yet suddenly I was calling my parents, contemplating a training schedule for the Ironman.

Experiences such as these are among the reasons I love sports. Not only is it impressive to see exhibits of team spirit, but sports stimulate a desire for success that can translate into everyday life. Sports are a quick way to remind us that, in our sometimes routine and mundane world, inspiration does exist.

Athletic endeavors are also a way to teach life lessons. When I was in middle school, one of my favorite books was on study skills. It is easy to wonder what anyone, especially a middle schooler, could love about a book on study skills, but each chapter started with a sports-related story that taught a success-oriented theme. The stories increased motivation by comparing two things that students might not typically relate - sports and academic achievement.

While reading the book, it started to make sense that practice and studying correlate just like a test and a game. I realized that athletics could act as metaphors for life and achievement.

Many people, especially parents, see how important sports participation can be in teaching children teamwork, healthy competition and goal setting. I look back on my own athletic experiences as important and essential to my life, but the lessons have not stopped there. Spectators like myself can still learn through the details of the game.

Recent lessons that I have learned, especially as I write after the two heartwrenching Tennessee Vol losses, are that sometimes all you have are perseverance and attitude because unexpected things can happen in the last second. It is easy to cheer for a winning team, but it takes strength, loyalty and a true team spirit to support a team that is down.

As the weather gets colder, I look forward to ups, downs, surprises and life lessons that the sports world will bring.

Contact Corin Harpe at corinharpe@gmail.com.