Building a Discipline Bridge
By Erin Elliott
Director of Student Life , Academics and Admissions
About ten years ago , my family planned a trip to San Francisco , California to celebrate my father ’ s 50th birthday . Among many plans , we intended to spend an afternoon visiting the Golden Gate Bridge . That same summer I had taken up running , a new sport for me at the time . My dad and I both set a goal to run the length of the Golden Gate Bridge when we visited . In the weeks leading up to our trip , I spent my evenings after work preparing for our run across the bridge ’ s 1.7 mile span . I set smaller goals to help me meet my larger goal of crossing the bridge . First I aimed to run . 5 miles without stopping to walk , then 1 mile , then 1.5 miles . I continued this progression until I could run 4 miles without stopping . Though the bridge was less than 2 miles long , I knew it had quite a bit of elevation and wind , both factors that I was not used to in my training environment of flat corn fields . Because of these added factors , I determined I needed to be able to run at least 4 miles in order to build sufficient endurance to cross the Golden Gate . One week before our trip , I met my goal of running 4 miles without stopping . Accomplished , I felt ready as could be for our trip .
Finally , the day of our visit to the Golden Gate Bridge arrived . We parked the car , laced up our sneakers and started running . The winds were palpable . And the bridge ’ s incline difficult . But my training had well prepared me for our run , or so I thought . We got to the other side , turned around to take in the San Francisco skyline and my dad enthusiastically declared , “ Great ! Now , we run back !” My mind started racing . Could I do that ? I was prepared to walk back , but run ? And back up the hill , with the wind in our faces ? I shot an , “ are you serious ” glance at my dad . As he started jogging , he said calmly , “ You can do it . You ’ ve been training all summer for this goal .” Giving up on this challenge was not an option , and I knew it . So we ran back across the bridge . Wind in our face .
Incline seemingly steeper than before . Legs burning . Breath running out . But we made it .
I think of this experience often , especially at the beginning of each new school year . Not only did running the Golden Gate Bridge become a magic memory for me and my dad , it is also a great example of the importance of setting worthy goals and maintaining the discipline needed to achieve them . If I had not trained as I did for our run across the bridge ( and back ), I likely would not have been able to achieve my goal . Just the same , if not for the people supporting me along the way , achieving my goal would have been that much more difficult , if not impossible .
At IJGA , we endeavor to help all our students set goals , identify their aspirations and courageously pursue the actions necessary to achieve both . On Sunday , August 19th , we gathered as an IJGA community for a morning of character and leadership development . We launched our use of the Habitudes Curriculum – working together through a 45-minute lesson fittingly called , The Discipline Bridge . This lesson about determining goals and establishing habits to achieve them , set the stage for all students to identify their life ’ s aspiration and mission as well as detailing their golf , academic and college placement goal . In between the Habitudes lesson and goal setting , each student got the opportunity to review their Mental Golf Workshop Profile , a personality profile specifically designed for golfers to better understand their tendencies and learning potentials . In the days , weeks , and year ahead the student life , golf and college placement teams will use the information shared and gathered during this kickoff event to help each IJGA student fulfill their aspirations . We will work alongside each student , helping them build their own , unique discipline bridges for success in school , golf and life . We hope in the course of pursuing and achieving their goals , our students will form healthy habits and the discipline to lead lives of good character and positive leadership in all they do . We hope , too , they will experience the joy of embracing a challenge and overcoming it . Along this journey may they learn the value of hard work , the reward of sustained effort , and the power of creating magic memories like the one I made when I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge ( twice ).
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