While my experience in a traditional office may be limited, my time on the lacrosse field, in the weight room, and in scouting and coaches’ meetings is anything but. During my internship at Indium Corporation, I quickly realized something important: college athletics and professional internships may look different on the surface, but they follow an incredibly similar formula for growth, development, and success. Whether you’re dedicating four years to a college team or ten weeks to a company, the outcome can be the same. These experiences lay the foundation for the integral skills that shape who you are and who you will become.
Skills like preparation, commitment, punctuality, discipline, and grit are not confined to one environment—they are universal. Athletics and internships, when approached with intention and effort, prepare you for far more than just games or meetings. They prepare you for life.
The Preparation Phase
Long before you set foot on a college campus or enter an office building, preparation begins. In sports, preparation starts with the basics: mastering your stick skills, staying in shape, traveling to tournaments, and putting yourself out there to be seen by coaches. It means early mornings, late nights, and countless hours practicing alone to be ready when opportunity knocks.
In the world of internships, preparation looks a bit different but requires the same level of commitment. It means keeping your grades up, joining clubs, building a strong résumé, learning how to network, and searching tirelessly on platforms like LinkedIn and Handshake. You do all of this while juggling a full course load, extracurricular activities, and maybe even a part-time job.
What stands out in both cases is the amount of personal time, energy, and effort required before anything officially begins. Coaches and hiring managers both act as gatekeepers. They scan résumés, evaluate performance, and try to find the best fit for their program or company. To get noticed, you must do more than just the minimum—you must prove that you’re serious, capable, and committed.
Getting the Offer
Then, finally, comes that long-awaited moment: the phone call. Whether it’s from a coach or a recruiter, the message is the same—they want you. I still remember the phone calls from Canisius and from Indium Corporation. In both moments, I immediately called my mom to share the good news. All the hard work, the uncertainty, the self-doubt—it was all worth it.
Signing your National Letter of Intent or accepting an internship offer is not just a formality; it is a statement. It says that you earned your spot. Whether it’s a locker or a desk, you now have a place that reflects your dedication. That signature is more than ink on paper—it represents months, even years, of work behind the scenes.
Onboarding and Orientation
After the celebration comes onboarding. You gather documents, complete forms, respond to emails, and prepare for what lies ahead. Whether you are filling out HR paperwork or completing your first summer workout packet, the goal is the same: to get ready for day one.
Then, orientation arrives. For athletes, it’s a culture meeting, getting your locker, receiving your gear and schedule, and signing the athlete’s code of conduct. That signature means you are committing to a team, a set of values, and a culture that is bigger than yourself. You are agreeing to uphold a standard that others rely on.
For interns, orientation is where you meet your team, learn company policies, and begin to understand the workplace culture. You may be introduced to tools, projects, and workflows, but more importantly, you are introduced to expectations. Just like with sports, you are given all the tools necessary for success. It is now up to you to make something of them.
This is the moment where buy-in becomes critical. You might not yet understand exactly what you are stepping into, but you are choosing to believe in the process. You are choosing to grow, contribute, and commit.
The Grind
Then comes the grind. In athletics, the grind means early morning practices, conditioning sessions, strength training, a full course load, and nights spent studying. From personal experience, it can feel like your head is constantly spinning. The days are long, and the pressure is real. For the first few weeks, survival becomes the main goal.
Internships bring a similar kind of shock. Waking up early, sitting in meetings, learning new systems, and navigating professional environments can be equally exhausting. It might not leave you physically sore, but it will challenge your mental stamina. That 10 a.m. team meeting can feel just as demanding as a 6 a.m. lift session.
This is when perception matters most. When the excitement fades and the routine kicks in, it is easy to lose sight of your purpose. You might start to ask yourself: Why am I doing this? Why did I choose to spend my summer behind a desk? Why am I pushing through these long practices?
The only way to answer those questions is to reconnect with your why. You did this to grow. To challenge yourself. To be a part of something meaningful. That internal motivation must carry you through when external rewards are still distant. But the beauty of the grind is that, over time, it becomes something you embrace. You start to look forward to practices, meetings, and even tough assignments. You bond with your teammates and fellow interns. You improve and others notice it. Tasks that once seemed impossible become second nature. You develop rhythm, confidence, and pride in your progress.
As you embrace the grind and become better at it, you are simultaneously building your personal brand and leaving your legacy with your team. How you will be remembered is a direct result of your effort in this stage. Are you dependable, diligent, hardworking, kind, and personable? This is where you leave your mark because it itakes up the most time. Final presentations and game days are few and far between, and the moments between those large events will be what you are truly remembered for.
Small Wins Matter
Victory is not always a championship trophy or a major promotion. Sometimes the most rewarding accomplishments are the small, quiet ones: passing a difficult conditioning test, finishing a spreadsheet after hours of data entry, or getting a shoutout in a team meeting. These moments might seem insignificant, but they are deeply personal milestones.
Growth does not happen all at once. It comes in steady, often unnoticed increments. Recognizing and celebrating these small wins is essential to your long-term motivation and mental health. Both internships and athletics teach this lesson repeatedly. Success is not built overnight, but through daily consistency and effort.
The Big Stage
Eventually, the spotlight comes. For athletes, it might be the first official game. For interns, it is the final presentation or a major team deliverable. The nerves return, but they are joined by quiet confidence. You have prepared for this. Every rep, every meeting, every hour of effort has led to this moment.
The suit is pressed, or the jersey is on. You step forward with poise, ready to perform not just for others, but for yourself. You are no longer the same person who walked through those doors on day one. You are stronger, more capable, and far more prepared for what lies ahead.
The Lasting Impact
Beyond wins, goals, and polished reports, the most lasting takeaway from both internships and athletics is the personal development they inspire. You learn the value of being on time, the power of hard work, the necessity of communication, and the rewards of resilience. These are the intangibles that do not show up on résumés but make all the difference in your career and your life.
In the end, the weight room and the office, the film study and the team meetings, the mock interviews and the late nights, they all serve the same purpose. They prepare you not just for a season or a summer, but for a lifetime—a lifetime of facing challenges with confidence, discipline, and a clear understanding of what it means to truly earn your success.
