Specialization?
When I was a young kid you could set the calendar according to the sport we were playing. As the season changed we went from baseball to football to basketball. Now however, with the explosion of AAU, Club and travel teams you find that athletes focus on only one sport. Parents scrambling for scholarships claim that without this total dedication to one sport that you cannot get a college scholarship. Is this true?
I recently read an article about Roger Federer, arguably the best tennis player of all time. When he was a young kid he played any game that used a ball. When he became a teenager, he started to realize that tennis was his best game. His mother a tennis coach did not want to coach him because he took too many crazy shots. His father’s input was just making sure he never cheated.
When interviewed Federer claims that the fact he played different sports allowed him to do things on the tennis court that other players could not. That he was able to take the skills acquired from different sports to produce a great tennis player. So, while he might have been temporarily behind some of the specialists in certain areas, his creative shot making ability carried him.
Now does that work in other fields. The answer seems yes. That while you might be behind on the mundane everyday stuff. However, when a creative solution is needed it seems that people who have dabbled in different things come to the forefront. Just like Federer they are able to use the skills and perspectives they have gained from other fields to help solve complex problems.
So, do not be afraid to dip your toe into the water of many different things. You might cultivate your passion a little later in life but you will bring those many different perspectives to your job which ultimately will make you more effective
Once again, another excellent post. This idea resonates with me, as I believe this hits upon the idea of the meaning of a liberal arts education. By broadening our horizons, we are able to solve problems in a society and function with each other by understanding different perspectives. Generalization is something that is so important to the social fabric of our very lives but is being lost. Thanks again for the great post!
ReplyDeleteI actually had this discussion with someone recently about the benefits of children playing multiple sports growing up. I hadn't really considered applying this perspective to my career until reading this. Thanks for making that connection! :)
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with you. I think there are benefits to trying new things, especially things you are unsure of doing. Every year I select courses that are increasingly challenging and different. The first week of school is always hard because there is more stress to manage. When I am sitting at my desk doing homework, I tend to ask myself questions like “do I really care about what happens in chapter two” or “will I ever need to know this information every again?” Not specifically. However, I take additional courses and courses I am unsure about because I think it is good to be challenged. While chapter two may never matter, it does help me get a better understanding of the world around me and it may help me in another class or later in life.
ReplyDeleteThe analogy you used of a sports player can be applied to everyday life even for me. This past Sunday, I visited Villanova University and toured their nursing program. I absolutely loved it, and I was amazed at how professional the program was. To become a nurse, a student has to take classes in many subjects ranging from sociology, anatomy, microbiology, Psychology, and Chemistry. Being a nurse requires many skills just like how Roger Federer used his many skills to help him enhance his game. You also have to have good people skills in order to communicate on a daily basis to patients and doctors, who come from many medical backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteThis is Chris Link by the way I'm not sure why it won't pop up on the top lol.
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