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From the Desk of President Jessica Poole – Enter crossover season ... hello old friend!
by Jessica Poole – 2022-23 College Sports Communicators President @JessPooleA2
Chicago State University, Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer
Hi friends,
Well, we are in it ... the infamous spring crossover season.
There is basketball, gymnastics, swimming and diving, ice hockey, baseball, softball … and the list goes on. We're in FULL swing right now and this means that many of us are stretched and likely stressed to the MAX right now.
I want you to know I see you!
I see the late nights.
I see the early mornings.
I see the endless number of recaps, game notes, graphics, video and social media.
I see the time spent away from family and friends.
I see the missed personal events.
I see the mental load this time of the year brings.
I see (and feel) the sacrifices.
I also really want to thank you all of your hard work and dedication to making your student-athletes, coaches and athletics departments the very best they can be.
Without you, many stories would go untold. However, the sacrifices you make in your dedication to your work can come at a cost.
The sacrifices we all make on a personal level to provide excellent service to our departments, student-athletes and coaches is commendable. We often say our jobs are thankless and I really want to change that.
I want you all to know that even though I may not be your AD or head coach, I thank you and I’m grateful for you every day. The work that you all do make me proud and humbled to represent College Sports Communicators.
I also want to encourage you all to think about our work as a combination of “YES’s” and “AND’s.”
Yes, you can want to be the best employee AND want to be the best parent/friend/sibling/spouse.
Yes, you can want to be at every sporting event AND want to be at your child’s swim lessons.
Yes, you can want to get your work done during working hours AND need to leave early to spend time with your grandmother one day a week.
If we look at our work like this, I think it helps us to prioritize what is important and sometimes (I would argue most of the time) work isn’t always most important thing, nor should it be.
Give yourself permission to prioritize what is important to you and your family.
Give yourself permission to pivot, change and grow if what you are currently doing isn’t serving you.
Give yourself permission to explore opportunities that are aligned or better aligned with your priorities.
Give yourself permission to discuss and set boundaries around the things that are important to you and your family.
If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s that we can’t get back time so make sure the way you are using your time is serving you and your family even if it means setting boundaries with work.
Until next month,
Jess
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