BSSC Specialist Sport students kicked off their Life Skills program for 2019 today with two very special guests from the world of soccer. Matildas legend, Melissa Barbieri, was joined by former England Premier League coach Scott Miller for a session that focussed on resilience and the preparation required to succeed; not only at the elite level of sport, but in all areas of life.
Miller spoke about the opportunities in sport, beyond being an athlete, including his own journey to the English Premier League as a young man in his early 20s. He encouraged students to stay true to their values in what can be a challenging industry.
“Sometimes success has nothing to do with how good you are,” he said. “It’s about timing. Don’t compare yourself to others… that’s just energy wasted. Focus on good relationships and where you can improve.”
Barbieri, who introduced herself to the students as Bubs, shared her story of returning to the national team after the birth of her child and the pressure that was put on her to hang up her boots.
“In sport you have to try and not take things personally… it’s usually about the coach’s perspective of the team,” she said. “I knew I wanted to retire on my own terms, so I pushed through… treated every training session like it was a match.”
Barbieri forced her way back into the Australian team for the 2015 World Cup and performed brilliantly.
Students had the chance to ask plenty of questions and received great advice around preparation, attitude and the challenges of balancing sport and education.
BSSC thanks Melissa and Scott for their honesty and inspiration in what was a memorable Life Skills session for the students and a great way to start the Specialist Sports Program for 2019.
