Existing in unprecedented times leads to unprecedented results. In this case, the latest result has been the cancellation of fall sports at Oberlin College. I can’t say I am surprised.
The writing was on the wall due to the constant increase in Coronavirus cases in America. While the loss of fall sports is a blow to my spirits, I am happy Oberlin College is stepping up and protecting students' health even if it means losing the treasure that is fall sports at Oberlin.
With that said, this blog will go over general things that athletes can do to take up the time that their respective sport once would have.
Going to Oberlin College is a privilege that not everyone is afforded. I know it may seem like you have been hit with bad news after bad news since March, but I promise there is someone who has it worse off than you. So now that you have all of this new-gained free time, find a way to give back to the people who don’t have the same opportunities as you.
At this age, we all have particular skills that we have developed over the years. You can take this skill and teach it to someone who is aspiring in the field, but might not have the guidance necessary to take their talent to the next level. Whether that skill is understanding finance, excelling at a sport, or even playing an instrument, all of these things can help someone go further in life than they would have before.
If you feel that you aren’t cut out to teach, there are other options, such as volunteering at food banks or other charitable organizations that are looking for help during this pandemic. I am a strong believer that it is important to give back. I challenge you to find a way to help others while your schedule is cleared up.
For rising 3rd-years at Oberlin, we will be partaking in the Junior Practicum that will give us life-changing internship opportunities; while the 1st, 2nd, and 4th-year students are on campus studying. When I was a freshman at Oberlin, I didn’t get a job during my first semester on campus, because I felt that the combination of football and schoolwork would keep me so busy that a job would be the last thing I wanted. Looking back at this decision, I regret it and wish I would have pursued a campus position that had flexible hours.
I certainly encourage all incoming freshmen to pursue a campus job that will not only provide you financial support but also build your resume. Oberlin offers amazing opportunities that range from interning for the city to mentoring the local high school students. With newfound time in the fall, I encourage everyone to take advantage of the great opportunities Oberlin is providing us with.
Finally, I push you to find a topic you are interested in and study it on your own. This may mean reading books on the subject or watching hours of YouTube videos; whichever method you choose is fine as long as you find a method. I feel that self-education is very important in discovering your inner self and what you are truly passionate about. Society tends to push us in a direction that they see fit for us to go in. If you don’t take a step back and look at things you actually find interesting, you may never find your true path.
While it is completely understandable to view the cancellation of fall sports as a negative, I feel that this is a negative that could turn into a positive for many people if one approaches the newfound time with an open mind.
I am confident that the diverse, intelligent group of student-athletes who attend Oberlin will push themselves to new heights in all aspects of their lives during the fall. I can not wait to see what Oberlin students do with this opportunity.
