Speaker series takes advantage of COVID-19 pandemic

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – With the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, working on personal development seems to be a growing trend. During this time of reduced in-person training or meetings, Axewomen basketball head coach, Len Harvey, saw an opportunity to offer a speaker series on personal growth and resiliency during this extraordinary time.

"We took advantage of the pandemic for sure and tried to make the best of a bad situation," said Harvey.

"We swung for the fences with who we asked to come on and speak, and were incredibly fortunate with who agreed. I was quite taken with how selfless they all were to jump on these calls considering the pedigree of everyone, it was really very exciting. It had started as an initiative for our own basketball team, but we decided it was best to include all of the female athletes at Acadia to join in if they were interested. Then we expanded to invite alumni, and other female leaders on our campus, it was really great to see the interest from different groups associated with Acadia."

The seven-speaker series included current and former athletes and organizational leaders including Lieutenant General Chris Whitecross of the Canadian Forces, who is serving as the Commandant of the NATO Defense College in Rome, current Canada Basketball Senior National team member and team captain, Miranda Ayim, Victoria Hayward, team captain and member of Softball Canada's Senior National team, Danielle Poulos, who is a mental performance consultant and responsible for Coaching Enhancement at the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic, Sarah Conrad, a snowboard Olympian and local sporting hero, Softball Canada Senior Women's Athletic Therapist, Natalie Ghobrial, and Jacqueline Simoneau, a Canadian Olympian and one of the top synchronized swimmers in the world.

Each guest was an experienced team or organizational leader, and spoke to different methods and strategies for attaining success, as well as how to respond to setbacks in the pursuit of success – whether athletic or organizational.

The guest speakers shared why and how they became successful in a manner that the listening athletes could relate too.

As they recounted their personal travels in achieving their success most, if not all, the speakers' stories touched on the theme of resiliency.

Ann Dodge, a lecturer within the School of Kinesiology at Acadia University, found the insight the guest speakers offered around resiliency in attaining their goals was a very positive message that all student-athletes should consider.

"I would say that in a time of real challenge, the sessions gave me a real positive message. Things are going to be okay. It is a time of challenge. These athletes have been through lots of different kinds of challenges before they managed to make the best of all of it. There are ways to deal with adversity. How do you deal with adversity? Who do you turn to that can provide help and insight? Yes, it is a challenge. Yes, there are challenges in life and in sport. There is a way to get around those challenges. It was just a really positive message."

Dodge added, "I think they were affirming messages of 'do your best'. To figure out a way to get around what we're facing right now and the challenges that you're going to face in your life. Figure out a way to get around them."

Third-year outside hitter for the Axewomen volleyball team, Lucy Glen-Carter, pointed out that she related to many of the speakers with her experience so far during the COVID-19 crisis.

"The speaker series was super beneficial for me, especially during these times, because each speaker shared with us their mindset about how they are dealing with the pandemic and what comes along with it," said Glen-Carter."Several speakers whose Olympics have been postponed and training facilities closed, have shown their resiliency and shared with us how they are turning circumstances into an opportunity. They have helped me embrace the goals I have already set."

Glen-Carter noted a quote that guest Natalie Ghobrial passed along from former heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson who said, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

"I think that perfectly describes what all athletes are going through right now," Glen-Carter added.

"Our speakers brought a different voice to our student-athletes and listeners, which I thought was impactful right away. There's something really compelling about hearing from people who have attained the level of success you may aspire toward, and hear them being vulnerable with you and sharing thoughts and feelings that you have yourself. Hearing some of the stories about where they may have fallen down, but then listen to their strategies about picking themselves up and moving forward was incredibly powerful," noted Harvey.

Senior guard for the Axewomen basketball team, Haley McDonald, thought the guests shared a lot of commonalities that gave student-athletes the opportunity to gain insight into what it takes to lead and excel at a higher level.  The speakers were from different backgrounds, played different sports, held different roles, and all shared the common characteristic of mental toughness and resiliency.

"You are not born with a certain level of mental toughness or resiliency, it is something in your control that you can work on and improve on. Throughout the entire series, it was mentioned multiple times that you gain these qualities through adversity and obstacles.  These barriers at the time may feel like a very big deal, but in the big picture, they only help create a well-rounded, tough individual.  This inspired me to believe in myself and look at setbacks in a new light.  I now understand that you don't need to be from a big city or have a ton of resources to be your best self and affect the people around you in a positive way."

From a first-year athlete's perspective, swimmer Elisabeth Morrison captured the importance of mental toughness and how it plays a part huge part in an athletic career and everyday life, saying:

"I heard how beneficial it is to reflect on your actions and use what you've observed to adapt and improve aspects of your life. What it takes to be an elite athlete including motivation, perseverance, and resilience."

"The series impacted my future leadership role on the team by exposing me to the grit and determination of the speakers.  The series emphasized the impact of effective teamwork in a group and how important it is to have everyone on the same page. As well, I think it will impact my leadership role by actively making it a priority to put the team/teammates first and that each person has their own individual strengths that are necessary for the team's success," said Morrison.

Feedback from many of the student-athletes and other women in sport and leadership positions all noted how timely the series was and how clear the message was in being resilient during these times of uncertainty and in attaining your personal and group goals.

"They were female voices that were being heard, but those were very positive and significant messages for anyone to hear", added Ann Dodge.