Dear Younger Me: Jessica Beard


Jessica Beard graduated from Euclid High School in Euclid Ohio in 2007. She's a 16-time All-American, a two-time individual NCAA champion and four-time relay NCAA champion for Texas A&M. She led the Aggies to the historical triple-double NCAA Outdoor team championships between the 2009-2011 seasons. Her performances solidified her as the 2011 Bowerman Award winner. After graduating college, she became a five-time World gold medalist. 


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"Try to remember, do not let the sport become your entire life. Enjoy all that being a youth and being a young athlete brings. That's why you'll be able to excel, because you LOVE the sport. More than anything, it's going to be your desire that will allow you to chase all your dreams and goals in life."


By Jessica Beard - Adidas


Dear Younger Jessica,

I always knew it. You had the right attitude.

Once you realized there was more outside your environment and your state - more races, more competition, more potential to challenge yourself - that passion and desire to be the best truly helped you reach places and heights you once thought unfathomable.

While many things challenged that desire, and while a few other things may have questioned you to go off course-it was hard, for one, to understand the idea of body image, and it was difficult, for another, to choose between two sports-I'm glad you didn't let certain facts or moments define your life as you journeyed forward.

Try to remember, the cliches in life aren't always just talk. They hold some truth. Hard work and work ethic will always reward you in some shape, form or fashion.

All these years later, there are things I also want to reiterate.

  1. Never let a loss define you, as an athlete or person.
  2. Never let the sport or the people around it tell you what you're supposed to be-that's your story.
  3. Instead, share with the world who you are.


Try to remember, do not let the sport become your entire life. Enjoy all that being a youth and being a young athlete brings. That's why you'll be able to excel, because you LOVE the sport. More than anything, it's going to be your desire that will allow you to chase all your dreams and goals in life.

And here's another thing: Remember to eat those Reese cups and flaming hot Cheetos. Because you ARE going to be a state champion and there's nothing better than enjoying the sweet and hotter things in life. Cut yourself some slack. You're only young once.


And there is no magic pill or formula that fits all. So embrace all those crazy lactic workouts AND trust the program your coach has for you AND have fun while you reach for great heights. Sometimes you will get there slow and steady. And other times it may seem instantaneous.

Just know, you'll get there. So don't panic.

Sincerely,


Older Jessica