MANSFIELD, Mass. – Recently three Northeast-10 student-athletes had the opportunity to attend the annual NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum (SALF), held from November 18-21 in Houston, Texas.
The NCAA SALF provides a four-day immersive leadership experience for over 200 student-athletes from all divisions. Each student-athlete is assigned to one of nine "color teams" that features student-athletes from Division I, II and III, along with school and conference administrators, who work through an intensive leadership development program.
This year the NE10 was fortunate to send three student-athletes to the life-changing leadership conference. This year's attendees were Eddie Baker of Saint Rose men's lacrosse, Stephen Cobbs of Stonehill football and Kylie Fitzpatrick, of Saint Anselm softball. When asked to describe the experience in 1-2 words the two phrases which they brought up were eye-opening and transformative. Below is their reflection on the four days which they feel has changed their lives.
Question: What are your key takeaways from your experience at the NCAA SALF and/or what did you learn about yourself?
Eddie: My key takeaways from the experience are that there are many different ways to lead. However, the best way to lead is by being yourself! You need to know what drives you and who you are to be the most effective.
Kylie: I never thought one weekend could have such an impact on my life. I have grown tremendously as an athlete and as a person, and I have experienced what it takes to truly lead. I know now that a leader isn't just someone who holds high positions, they explore the world to find their true purpose. They first look inside to find their tools, and these tools are called upon at different times to benefit themselves and the people around them. I am so appreciative of all the people I encountered in Houston, and I would like to thank them for all their gratitude and willingness to improve because it truly made an impact on me.
Stephen: I learned a lot and met a lot of amazing people that I hope to stay in contact with in the future. One significant aspect of the event that I had not heard before and I now love is the word Mudita. This was explained to us by Olympic Medalist Haylie McCleney, who said it is a Sanskrit term that doesn't have a true translation to the English language, but the closest it can get is having unparalleled joy in the success of others. I feel like that is incredibly important, being a student-athlete today, with how easy it is to get caught up in social media and friends, and even teammates. It's imperative that we stay true to ourselves as student-athletes and enjoy the little time we have left playing the sport that we all love. I feel like Mudita also plays hand in hand with my personal leadership style and philosophy.
Question: How can you apply what you learned when you get back to campus?
Eddie: When I get back to campus I'm going to apply what I have learned at NCAA SALF by teaching everything I now know to others around me, including my classmates and teammates and coaches.
Kylie: One activity I enjoyed was building my VRJ (Visual Representation of your Journey) block. Each activity we did over the weekend is represented on the block and serves as a reminder of the effort it took to build something special. I would love to apply something similar on my team.
Stephen: I learned about the importance of vulnerability and authenticity and how a good leader is one that takes the opinions and emotions of others into account. I can't wait to bring this all back to my campus and I already plan on introducing it to my Coach and our SAAC so that all of Stonehill gets to benefit from this experience.
Question: Any final thoughts about your experience at the NCAA SALF?
Eddie: SALF was an amazing experience and thank you to Saint Rose for letting me be a part of it. It is one of those things I wish everyone had the chance to do. You learn so much about yourself and others. Everything we learned/did in Houston was catered to helping us succeed and grow as leaders!
Kylie: I had an amazing time in Houston, and I would recommend a similar adventure to all athletes or aspiring leaders. I have met so many incredible people and friends for life! I would also like to thank the NE10 and Saint Anselm athletics for nominating me and providing me the opportunity to have this incredible experience!
Stephen: In terms of final thoughts, I don't have many, but I would like to express my continued gratitude towards the NE10 and Stonehill Athletics for allowing me to take part in and experience such an amazing event.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
