Self Motivation in College Athletes
Self motivation is a skill that everyone needs and should have when dealing with hardships in there life. Self Motivation is defined as the ability to motivate yourself and be able to have a drive that helps you accomplish your goals. I interviewed a former Division 2 College Athlete by the name of Jake Mandelko. Jake played at Nebraska-Kearny for four years as Safety and never really got his chance till his senior year where he earned Division 2 All American and was a two-time First Team All-District (2008 & 2009) and First Team All-Rock Mountain Athletic Conference in 2009. I know Jake Mandelko as he is now my coach for Buena Vista University as the Defensive back coach and Defensive coordinator for the beavers. Jake has been preaching to the team that we have to stay motivated to always get better if we in season or not and I had to ask him how does he stay so motivated to get better and what goes through his head when he has a goal and he is trying to accomplish it.
I asked Jake Mandelko- What is self motivation to him? “The inner fire and drive to accomplish his/her goals professionally and personally. Somedays fire burns hotter than others. Never wants to have two bad days in a row. Once he decides he wants to do something he works to accomplish that and not to allow himself to give up. Not afraid of failure.” I think this is the perfect example for self motivation because if you want something you alone are going to have to go get and no one else and we all have those bad days that when you do not want to do anything but those are the days that separates you from others and will put you over the top and be able to accomplish all your goals. With that I asked him- Throughout your life how have you kept your self motivation?-”Confident in ability and had to drive to learn to do it. Compared himself to others knowing that he can do it.” With self motivation it is about having the confidence and the belief to know that you can do it and by doing this you are creating a better you, that you and everyone around you can be proud of.
Jake Has always been the underdog and had to walk on to Nebraska-Kearny where he earned a scholarship and I asked him -In college you really bet on yourself. Why did you feel you could make it and what kept you going throughout college?- “Had to really bet and believe in himself and his ability and was always improving and wanting to correct what he wasn’t good at. Surrounded himself by like minded teammates that were motivated as well and took on a little brother role from his two upperclassmen to help him get better.” Knowing that he everyone saw him and believed that he did not have the ability to make it in college football but he knew he loved the game and wanted to play at the next level so he made it happen and learned everything he can from older guys to help him prepare and be able to gain the starting spot his senior year. He went through a hardship while at Kearny as everyone has and had a really bad injury in college, and started to miss football. With that I had to ask -What kept you from quitting and just giving up?- “Never thought about quitting. Loved the game enough because he knew it wasn’t career ending and knew that his time was coming and kept his drive through that and knowing his friends and teammates needed him.”
Having self motivation can help you in any level of sports you are in and can be a turning factor for you to get where you want and desire to be. Jake desired to be a college football athlete and made it happen. The drive to do it is what you need and is what can help you in maintain and get where you want to be. Jake made his dream happen and had great career in college and has used that to help become a great coach,husband, and father. I am glad I met him and that he recruited me to Buena Vista University.
