Team Me has lifelong meaning for many Dragons. photo courtesy of Rex Teter Photography
By Robert Halliman
There's more to being a Dragon than championships. In fact, duringbrmy time as a Dragon, playing football from 2007–2010, I was never part of a statebrchampionship team. However, even without the glory, I believe I, too, came awaybrfrom the program a champion. Jewelry aside, by champion, I mean a more evolvedbrand mature person. Even in my adolescent stage, I understood the goal ofbrgrowing up was to make strides towards becoming a man. Each step along the way isbrall part of the journey towards adulthood. As they say, “It takes a village tobrraise a child.” It just so happened that the Southlake athletic program was abrpart of my village. The lessons Ibrlearned as a Dragon form an integral part of who I am today and will be key tobrmy success as I move forward through life.
As most young athletes do, I lookedbrat sports as a place to learn about life. brI'm proud to say that the lessons I learned on the field have definitelybrshaped my life so far. Today, I am majoring in journalism at Lehigh University inbrPennsylvania with plans to graduate this coming May. I may still be young, butbrthroughout my time in college and my experiences working, I've already beenbrable to apply some of the lessons I have learned while a member of the Dragonbrfootball team. More specifically, I learned the importance of a Team Mebrattitude.
It's more than just the fashionablebrlook you see players sporting under their jerseys, and it's much more than thebrfinal score on Friday nights. Team Me is an important mindset I still take withbrme every day. Just as I did when I donned my helmet, today, I am cognizant ofbrthose around me, even as I strive to make my own mark in the real world. As abrcollege student, I'm not only making strides for myself but for my family. Thebreveryday challenges I experience while 1,500 miles from home not only better mebrbut also those around me.
As I interned this past summer at Southlake Style, I did my part to helpbrbring this issue of Dragon Pride together. Back in my hometown, I was able tobrlearn much about how a business runs. Through my experiences, I have once againbrseen in action what Dragon football had taught me — in order for a team orbrcompany to be successful, teamwork is key. A business is much like a team; inbrorder for it to run smoothly, everyone must be on the same page. When everybody manages their obligations tobrthe best of their ability, the chance of success for the company as a whole standsbrto be much greater. As an intern, I wasbrgiven the opportunity to be a part of that process. I was given a role andbrdeadlines, and through those deadlines I was able to not only better myself asbra writer but also learn how to contribute as a productive member of a differentbrkind of team. This opportunity taught me new skills; ones that I hope tobrsomeday soon take to a full-time job in communications. It also helped sharpen many of the skillsbrlike preparedness and accountability, which I already had thanks to my daysbrgrowing up as a Dragon.
Robert Halliman is abrsenior journalism major and political science minor at Lehigh University inbrBethlehem, Penn. A 2010 Carroll Senior High graduate, Robert played defensive tacklebrfor coach Hal Wasson from 2007–2010. Anbraspiring sports agent and media personality, Robert is also a member of thebrLehigh University Business Careers and Entertainment Club.