Now, a couple years later, head coaches David Alviar and Mike Matson have turned things around, a fresh start for the next generation of Rice rowers: a new facility, a new set of equipment, and a new demanding training program to push the team to the next level. These two devotees are looking for the next group of Rice rowers to step up to the plate, prove their worth, and bring Rice Crew back to the top. Although rowing is the ultimate team sport, my secret to share with you, dear reader, is that the success of a program happens not with the team, but with the individual – with you.
Publius Syrus (a Latin writer popular 30-40 BCE) has a line that reads “Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria” or “He conquers twice, who conquers himself when he is victorious.” Occasionally used as a school motto, the line can be interpreted as you win, or conquer, when you’ve conquered yourself – when you’ve faced (and maybe defeated) your own weaknesses and failings. Instead of finding fault with others, be introspective, find what you need to work on, be it patience, diligence, tolerance, or otherwise.
Rice Crew’s focus is now primed for competition and the coaches will make that plenty clear to you moving forward; to me that means you will need to discover yourself or be left behind. It means pushing your limits beyond what you imagined possible. It means testing yourself with high standards as opposed to competing and comparing solely against others. It means battling your fears, weaknesses and flaws. It means totally immersing yourself in something you love. It means that being great is the only option.
Many of you readers don’t know me and might never meet me, and that’s ok, but I ask you to do one thing – know yourself and be great.
