By Jake Harvie
Just a few days earlier than Christmas final 12 months, I walked out of Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital having accomplished the ultimate day of my fifth 5-week scholar placement, and my closing day of a 7-year half time Physiotherapy diploma. Over the 7 years of juggling College round my sporting profession I’ve been lucky sufficient, with the Kookaburras; to compete in and win gold medals at two Commonwealth video games, play at two world cups, win a World League and Champions Trophy, play over 100 video games for my nation, miss choice for an Olympics (it may well’t at all times be good), journey the world and most significantly problem myself to develop as an individual, plus hopefully add some worth to the individuals and organisations I’ve been concerned with alongside the best way.
The explanation I selected the highest picture is as a result of it was taken at 8pm on New 12 months’s Eve in 2022 in an abacus lab at Curtin College and I used to be again there once more on New 12 months’s Day. It was lower than per week earlier than we departed for the 2023 Hockey World Cup. It was me doing what was required at the moment. I used to be finalising a analysis proposal for the primary physiotherapy placement I’d full on my return from the World Cup in India. Apart from two weeks of coaching in Perth that challenge was accomplished in airports, cafes, lodge rooms, lobbies and planes between Hobart, Melbourne, Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Singapore, Rourkela and Bangalore as I toured with the Kookaburras for the FIH Professional league just some weeks after a coronary heart break loss within the closing seconds of the World Cup semi-final.
It encapsulates many issues for me and the rationale I write athlete-student not student-athlete (as is usually carried out) is my sporting profession as a hockey participant has at all times remained my essential precedence, and when push involves shove, has at all times come first. I had a a lot bigger variety of workers and supervisors who endeavoured to supply me flexibility and help than the small quantity who supplied extra of a problem. My first assembly on the school after being picked within the nationwide group I used to be instructed to vary levels as I wouldn’t be capable to handle the workload and that the college couldn’t supply me a versatile part-time timetable. We labored by means of that. That very same 12 months whereas competing on the Commonwealth Video games on the Gold Coast I used to be denied the chance to have a ‘catch up session’ within the anatomy lab earlier than my lab examination as I had missed 6 of the obtainable 8 lab session within the 8 weeks previous to the examination. I used to be instructed “there aren’t any make-up classes for college students who select to overlook class” – truthful sufficient too. I did fairly poorly in that examination however by the tip of the semester had success within the unit. I used to be lucky to not fail a unit over my time in the course of the diploma. Resistance is a necessary half in any journey, typically it simply goes that approach, and you need to make the very best of the hand you might be dealt in that scenario. Settle for your actuality and get on with it.
Chop wooden. Carry water.
Total, I had a incredible expertise at college and the variety of supervisors and college students who supplied their help with my research, greatest needs, and congratulations after I made choice or was a part of medal profitable groups far outweighed people who didn’t. Studying to roll with the punches and adapt to altering and undesirable circumstances is critical, and we all know our brains survival-based negativity bias pulls us to give attention to these challenges or ‘adverse’ experiences. However that may’t be allowed to outweigh the great that’s at all times someplace and ceaselessly extra distinguished in the environment. These challenges are simply tales I’m grateful to have now wanting again on the expertise in totality.
Hockey is my chosen pursuit of mastery, however regardless of the pursuit of mastery, if it truly is true, it requires every part you can provide it. It meant that the majority usually Uni must ‘slot in’ second to mastery. It means sitting written exams in Holland, Germany and London on relaxation days when some gamers have been exploring international cities. It means being on the library at 5am on a Saturday or a Sunday to atone for the month you missed. Which additionally means typically saying no to pals to be early to mattress on Friday and Saturday nights. It means as an athlete who prepares meticulously for competitors, being happy with not being as ready as you prefer to for a medical placement since you flew in from India at 2am that morning – and begin within the clinic at 10am. And being wonderful with that as a result of that’s what is required. As a result of that’s the alternative you made, not the sacrifice.
You may have each, and sure you do should stability issues, however that stability can’t be equal. Steadiness for me meant that to finish a level it might take me practically twice so long as all of those that accomplished the ‘regular’ research pathway. It meant assembly a brand new 12 months group of scholars each second 12 months, getting unusual takes care of lacking 4 weeks of courses away on tour, my title at all times being ‘scholar 30’ on the attendance checklist and laughing at myself not understanding the place a classroom was in my sixth 12 months at college. It meant accepting my commencement certificates within the mail whereas away on tour. And being wonderful with all that too as a result of that was what mastery demanded.
Rising up in a extra ‘trendy’ and properly researched age of athletes we have been at all times instructed you want stability, and also you do. College, hobbies like browsing and enjoying music plus being a reliable pal, accomplice, sibling, or mum or dad should have a spot in life. I’m a complete believer that good individuals make good athletes and nice individuals make nice athletes. To be that particular person it’s worthwhile to be properly rounded, you possibly can’t be one dimensional. However nobody outlined to me that it may well’t be 50/50 in case you or your group wish to try to be the very, absolute best at one thing, in case you actually wish to pursue mastery, you have to be happy with doing what’s required to maneuver in that course. That has been a lesson learnt alongside the best way and a mindset alternative. Within the instance of an Olympic sport everybody has the identical objective of profitable a gold medal, so it isn’t the very best objective that wins, it’s these with the very best techniques that win and to place these techniques in place usually meaning research, browsing or enjoying music and typically pals or household goes to should make room or take a backseat. And it’s worthwhile to be happy with that too.
I’m somebody who at all times needs to do every part, and ‘make it work’ so it has been a fantastic lesson to grasp how few pursuits of mastery you possibly can have in life in case you pursue it within the purest and truest sense. However in case you do give it your all – a lot fulfilment might be discovered. The extra you give time and develop your abilities in that pursuit of mastery you’ll seemingly see that the extra competent you get, the extra you take pleasure in it. Chances are you’ll discover selecting to take a look at one thing as a pursuit of mastery and never as work means that you can adore it much more, permits that factor to be one among your hobbies since you select to see it that approach. It’d even be enjoyable. Who doesn’t wish to spend extra time doing the issues they love. Usually it takes time to construct one thing you’re keen on. It takes a dedication to pursuing mastery.
You may’t tick off mastery like a objective, it isn’t one thing to be accomplished, in my eyes it’s extra a means of refinement that requires humility to stay immersed in over time. Will I, or can I ever obtain it? I’m uncertain. One can by no means play the proper recreation. However persistently looking for your self within the pursuit of progress that shapes the trail in the direction of mastery if very fulfilling. Permit your self permission to be so encapsulated by your chosen pursuit of mastery.
It’s a blessing. Not a burden.
I stay up for working within the Physiotherapy area at some stage as my pursuit of mastery on the hockey pitch permits however I get a way that the areas of high-performance, tradition and management are calling my title. A gorgeous factor about an athletic profession is you can’t do it on the high degree perpetually. Which implies there might be a possibility to pursue mastery in one other area someplace down the highway.
Get pleasure from your pursuit and thanks for studying.
