This past fall, as part of the One Le Moyne mission, Jeanne Murphy, Associate Director for Student-Athlete Success, began meeting with student-athletes to learn more about the core Jesuit values and how they relate to being a student-athlete.
The Jesuits believed in taking care of the body, setting goals no matter how big or small, and live life with intention and integrity. These beliefs can be integrated into all daily aspects of life, even athletics.
“We are planting the seed of these values, and exposing student-athletes to the unique and special education of what it means to be at Le Moyne,” said Murphy.
Working with Father David McCallum, Murphy developed five main ideas regarding what is most important in being a student-athlete at a Jesuit institution. These ideas are meant to help students to become more aware of how they are choosing to live their lives, and to be healthy.
The first, cura personalis, meaning “care for the individual person,” helps students to begin thinking about how they are being engaged with others and with themselves in their daily lives. Students will reflect upon their practice, game performance and how they prepare themselves for athletic events.
Magis, meaning “more,” is another major focus point for the students. This term helps students to begin focusing on giving their all into everything that they do, why they chose to play their sport, and what obstacles they face in achieving their best.
Students then address the term discernment, which is the process of making choices. This calls for students to reflect upon thinking before acting, why they choose to compete in their sport and what decisions they can make to become fully engaged in all that they do.
Reflection is the fourth key focus that Murphy discusses with student-athletes. Students take time to discuss the idea of reflection, how they focus on the positive aspects in their lives over the negative, and at what times during the day do they take the time to think and reflect.
The final focus of this initiative is spirituality, touching on the idea of being at peace with oneself. These terms help to educate student-athletes on the importance of these Jesuit values, and how they can be applied to being a student-athlete.
This mission helps student-athletes to begin to understand the important Jesuit values that help them to become developed as a person, and focus on creating a positive mentality that can be carried with them throughout their lives, even after Le Moyne.
This new initiative is a great way to help student-athletes to become more connected to the key values of a Jesuit education. Only in its first year, this program will continue into the following academic year, and help students to grow not just as athletes, but as individuals who will help to make a positive impact on the world.
