Jim Harbaugh<\/a>. I heard it so often it became a part of my daily life and, honestly, I didn\u2019t fully grasp the weight of it until I started college. To me, it means approaching each day with unmatched energy, positivity and purpose and giving my best no matter what challenges come my way, and now, I live by those words. Whether I\u2019m covering a game for The Michigan Daily, taking part in research, cheering on the Wolverines at the Big House or trying to get a 7 out of 7 on a calculus mastery exam, I always try to bring that same level of energy and focus to whatever I\u2019m doing. My dad showed me this lesson doesn\u2019t just apply to sports, but to everything in life. The simplicity yet power behind those words became a cornerstone in shaping how I approach every task, no matter how small it might seem. I found that mindset to be the difference between simply completing a task and truly excelling at it. For example, during the college application process not only did I succeed and get into some amazing schools, but I also got into my dream school, the best university in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\nMy dad didn\u2019t just teach me how to appreciate the game of life, he taught me how to approach everything with passion. From a young age, he encouraged me to try every sport until I found one I adored. Soccer was a no-go for me while lacrosse became a passion and hockey became my heart and soul. No matter what sport or situation it was, though, my dad was always there. To my dad, it didn\u2019t matter if I was playing in a game or practicing on my own, he was my loudest, most enthusiastic cheerleader even though he doesn\u2019t look like one, as a bald 50-something year old (sorry, Dad). It didn\u2019t matter what the score was, he was always there, banging on the glass and making me feel like I was playing the biggest game of my life. What stood out the most to me was his ability to make every practice or game feel important regardless of the level of competitiveness or the opponent. I remember times when I was frustrated, questioning whether I was good enough or if I was on the right path, both inside and outside of sports. During my first semester in college, I called him constantly, usually because I was having a crash out over my classes, especially Economics 101. Every time I called he picked up, even though I was practically sobbing into the phone. And although I can be quite annoying, he was always there cheering me on at every aspect of life with that infectious energy that made me believe in myself even when I thought I couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\nIn addition to that, the real lessons didn\u2019t just come from sports. They came from how my dad approached every waking day, through the good times and the hard ones. When my mom \u2014 who coached my youth lacrosse team \u2014 passed away while I was still growing up, it was one of the hardest times of my life. But my dad didn\u2019t think twice. He stepped into her shoes without hesitation and took over coaching the team. Even in the midst of his own grief, he was there for me, cheering me on, showing up for practice, always teaching me how to move forward even when it felt impossible. Each day was a challenge, but my dad always showed up to every game and event with such energy that it almost made it easy to forget my mom wasn\u2019t there. Still, her presence was felt every day. A bench overlooking three grassy lacrosse fields in our town was dedicated in her memory \u2014 fields filled with so many special memories from our past, which continued to grow as my dad stepped into the role she once held.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The loss of my mom was something none of us were prepared for, but my dad\u2019s resilience showed me how to keep going even when life feels impossible. Through it all, he was not only a father but a role model for how to deal with the most painful and challenging situations. His ability to hold our family together, to take on extra responsibilities without ever letting me feel the weight of it, taught me the true essence of strength and enthusiasm. My dad taught me how to face life\u2019s toughest moments with strength and grace, showing me that, although you can\u2019t always control what happens in life, you can control how you respond. When I\u2019d break down in frustration or feel like giving up in any aspect of my life, my dad never gave me an easy out. Instead, he pushed me to rise above, to dig deep and find the strength I didn\u2019t know I had. Although these lessons allowed me to persevere in tough sports games, their broader application is what truly stuck with me. They were lessons in resilience, perseverance and understanding that while life sometimes doesn\u2019t go the way we plan, we can still make the most of what we do have.<\/p>\n
Through every hardship, my dad showed me what true leadership looked like. Leadership isn\u2019t about winning or being the best, but rather about showing up, doing the work and lifting others up along the way. As my dad taught me, leadership is about being there for people when they need you most and being the person others can rely on. My dad reminded me to always be kind, strong and, most importantly, to act like a lady and act with grace and respect, off or (sometimes) on the field and the ice. Today, as a Sports writer for The Daily, I carry my dad\u2019s lessons with me every time I cover a game. My dad\u2019s love for Michigan Athletics sparked my own and his support gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. As a kid we\u2019d travel from our hometown in Boston to Michigan, Illinois, Connecticut, Florida and more to see the Wolverines compete in football or basketball games, and every November we\u2019d gather a group of friends in our living room to yell at the screen as Michigan played Ohio State while we chowed down a pile of steaming hot buffalo wings. Whether I\u2019m writing about a big win or a tough loss, I try to channel the energy and passion he taught me to approach life with every article. Writing about sports isn\u2019t just about statistics and scores, it\u2019s about telling the stories behind the games. It\u2019s about understanding each athlete\u2019s dedication to the game and their personal journey. My dad showed me that sports were more than just a competition; they were a way to connect with others and build character.<\/p>\n
This Father\u2019s Day, I\u2019m thinking about all the moments when my dad was there for me. He\u2019s the one who taught me what it means to give everything I have to the game, whether the \u201cgame\u201d is a sport, career or life itself. Whenever I\u2019m sitting in the press box or standing on the sidelines at a Michigan game, I can\u2019t help but think of him. His enthusiasm for the game of sports \u2014 and of life \u2014 and his unwavering support are the reasons I\u2019m able to do what I love every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thank you for everything, Dad. For teaching me to love the game, for being there through all the ups and downs and for showing me how to approach life with purpose, passion and the kind of enthusiasm that can\u2019t be ignored. You\u2019ve been my coach, my best friend, my mentor and above all my role model. Through your example, I learned what it means to live with purpose and to approach every challenge with enthusiasm and passion.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\nThis Father\u2019s Day, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for giving me the confidence to chase my dreams, for showing me what it means to be a leader and the best. Thank you for teaching me that true strength comes from showing up and that the most important thing is to attack each day with enthusiasm unknown to mankind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Go Blue & Blessings!<\/p>\n
Love,
Statement Contributor Molly Ross can be reached at <\/em>mollybr@umich.edu<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\n
Related articles<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Some of my earliest memories are filled with vivid images and sounds: maize and blue jerseys flashing across the TV screen, the echo of whistles over a sun-baked field and the sound of skates slicing through the ice on early Saturday mornings. My dad, a proud University of Michigan alum, didn\u2019t just give me a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[1943,1969,1971,1970],"class_list":{"0":"post-1764","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-dad","9":"tag-enthusiasm","10":"tag-mankind","11":"tag-unknown"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1764"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1766,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764\/revisions\/1766"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}