By Lucas Summers, Valor Heights Student, Sophomore, Class of 2028
Two players, same team, same position, but one of them emerges as a leader, while the other falls into insecurity. What's different about the players? It has nothing to do with natural ability or with luck either. It has to do with their decisions, their actions, their goals. Football has shown me that identity is not something that you inherit; it's something that you create.
All my decisions on the field mirror who I am. If I practice with my weak foot after staying late or decide to encourage a teammate following a disappointing game, all these are reflective indicators of my values: discipline, compassion, and grit. Barry Schwartz, the author of The Paradox of Choice, believed that "the things that we choose tell us what we care most about." Jean Côté, a sports psychologist, adds that "athletes develop their sense of self through training and competition choices" (International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2009). In soccer, the choices that I make determine my future.
Actions speak louder than intentions. Sprinting back to defend when I'm worn out or staying calm in a heated match shows my character. Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do." Research backs this up. Habits formed through consistent actions shape our identity (Wood et al., Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2002). On the pitch, my behavior makes the strongest statement.
We can illustrate disciplined behavior on the field that shows that actions (behaviors) create identities and not intentions. Physical training is a commitment, even when motivation is lacking, because it will help build habits and character. As Lally et al. (2010) stated, "repeated behavior in a stable context becomes automatic" (European Journal of Social Psychology, 40(6), 998-1009). When I choose to show up to an activity, I push through tiredness to be consistently good at my skills. I am not just becoming a better athlete; I am creating resilience, reliability, and perseverance. These are human characteristics of who I am becoming because I have built them with deliberate action, not just intentions.
Many might argue that intentions matter more than actions, as intentions show our intrinsic values. Nonetheless, actions seem to speak louder. By sprinting back to defend with nothing left in my legs or remaining calm in a tense moment late in an intense game provide a clearer representation of my character than proclaiming my intentions. There is also ample modern research showing that building a habit through consistently doing something establishes our identity more than our intentions. Therefore, on the pitch, what I actually do matters more than my intentions.
Ultimately, I do not see my statistics or trophies as defining me. I see myself as defined by my choices, actions, and aspirations. Soccer is much more than a game. It is the place in which I build my identity, one moment at a time.
Photo Credit: Oscar Rodriguez