What I learned beyond the game itself

Attitude, Commitment, Character.

When Doc first asked me to write this letter, I laughed at the irony that the night before I was racing to work with the words: “If you are not 5 minutes early you are late”, running through my mind. I find it amazing that after all this time his teachings have still stuck with me and become so crucial to life. Although many times one may struggle to even understand what Doc is saying, listen closely, for he has a wealth of knowledge he is willing to share that will help you through more than just a 90 minute soccer game.

Four years ago I sat in your exact shoes, as a selected member of the BHS Women’s Soccer team. And boy did we have some fun. I loved this team, especially during our 2014 season (my senior year) as we started out at a summer tournament in which we all felt we had a LOT of practice to do going into the season. As we were all circled up together arm in arm, a sweaty mess, we were approached with a trophy. We had placed first in the tournament.

We were all somewhat stunned and looked around and erupted into a great deal of laughter, none of us expecting this title. But alas, the first trophy for the BHS Women’s Soccer team was added into the cabinet at school. Part of each and every one of us was proud and excited for the fall. My name is Hannah Glover, but to Doc and my team I was always known as “Gloves”. I played for Doc and Fligg from 2010-2014 as part of the BHS Women’s Soccer Team. When I wasn’t playing on the field for Doc, I was in the boxing ring at his gym, participating in a UKSD street soccer game, or begging him to take over as coach of the lacrosse team so we could still play.

​I enjoyed high school, and I loved this soccer team. I loved the level of respect, sitting together with my teammates at lunch, dressing together on game days, and being proud to represent my team. Together we accomplished things. We were one as a team. One person left trash and we all ran sprints (unless one special team captain picked up dog poop and then we ran one less sprint). This is so important to remember, you are ONE and in this TOGETHER. You do not have to be best friends with everyone on this team but being a good teammate is so imperative. Although I was not best friends with every member of my team in high school, I sure would have done anything to help every single one of them. Each day at practice we worked together and although it was hard work, and a lot of commitment, we had so much fun and from this became great friends.

​I was by no means close to the best player on the team, Doc will tell you that. But he saw something in me that I may not have even seen in myself at the time. I was a team player. When we were running sprints I was cheering everyone on, if I was done with my mile run and saw someone towards the end looking ready to quit I would run another lap just to help them see it through, when I was on the bench I was still in good spirits and rooting for each and every girl on that field. This kind of attitude is infectious, and before long I noticed my attitude spread down the line of my team. I never realized until later that these qualities I exercised on that field and at practice made me a good player. My senior year I won the sportsmanship award. Doc said, “The house could be on fire and this girl would still find the good in the situation”. And this is still true for me today. In life you do not have to be the most talented at what you do, you do not have to be a natural born star, but your attitude about every situation will dictate how far you make it.

As I graduated from high school and moved on to pursue a nursing degree at Saint Anselm College I missed being out on that field entirely. And so I begged Doc to let me help out with tryouts that summer. And the summer after that. And so on. Whether it be on the field, off the field, volunteering my time, playing futsal, street soccer, or within the boxing gym, I was constantly learning something from Doc that I carried with me into college. I do not think I have ever been late to something in my life. And I used to cringe as I watched people show up late, for I knew what this meant to Doc. This means zero respect and that you do not care, you made ZERO effort to be there.

And Doc is not the only one who feels this way. College professors, future employers, important connections in life share this same feeling. So remember, if you are not 5 minutes early you are extremely late. In college I found I took the level of teamwork, leadership, and respect that I learned in high school soccer to become very successful as a student. During interviews I was admired for my professionalism and timeliness, at work I was commended for being a team player, and with my free time I volunteered in the community at a local hospice house.

Again I was by no means the smartest student in my nursing class, but I was passionate. And again someone saw something in me that I did not see in myself. My professor nominated me for the Student Nurse of the Year Award this past spring. And out of the entire state of New Hampshire and the thousands of students in nursing school, I won. This award was not due to grades, it was for how I carried myself, how I treated others, my professionalism and my leadership skills, my passion for what I do as a nurse. However there were times I failed too. Senior year of college I failed my HESI exam, a comprehensive exam scored similarly to the SAT’s that covered all the information I had learned over 4 years in nursing school. I did not receive a score deemed good enough for my school’s passing standards. Only 11 students in my entire class of 95 failed. However, I knew this was not a reflection of me as a student and I had one more opportunity to take the test and prove this.

​Many of you have probably heard the quote, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you make of it”. Please remember this throughout life. For I did not give up after this failure. I studied every night for a month. I said no to many social opportunities and retook the test receiving an almost perfect score. I graduated cum laude this past May with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree.

During college I also became a published author in a nursing journal writing about my experience with patients and how I came to realize the importance of communication within my job setting. Communication is another thing you will find SO important as a team together out on that field and off the field. College was the hardest schooling of my life, but I had the most fun. I made forever friends that are now like family, I have professors who I text regularly, and a school I will always call home. For you seniors this year, I cannot wait for you to enjoy this huge step in life, but cherish your high school time it goes by so fast. And now I again parted from another chapter in life as I graduated from college and studied my summer away to finally become a registered nurse. I will begin my first job at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Neuro Intensive Care unit this summer. And I will let you in on a secret. I was by no means qualified for this job compared to the other applicants, two of which were top students of my nursing class at Saint Anselm’s. But the nurse manager saw something in me.

​Something I am now finally able to see in myself. I am a team player with a great attitude and passion for what I do. And this is what my dream job saw in me. I never realized how important developing a positive attitude was back in high school. But thank you Doc for always encouraging me to develop upon this. It has taken me so far in life. To all of you, please remember how infectious a positive attitude is for it will carry you to be the standout in the room, on the field, and to be the best at what you choose to do someday. Continue to work hard and cherish these high school moments for the years go by fast! Best of luck. Sincerely, Hannah Glover ‘14