A Letter to My Younger Self
Nolan Green
Dear Nolan,
So, you are going to West Point…
You must be trying to figure out what you are going to do. After all, you played soccer for most of your life and that passion has begun to fade. I know your brother, Jason, is trying to convince you to go down and tryout for Rugby and I know that you are unsure about it.
I also know that your uncertainty stems from a deep fear of failure. I point you to the words of Theodore Roosevelt and his famous “man in the arena” speech. I write you to tell you to step bravely into the arena and accept the possibility of failure. Go tryout.
Within the confines of this letter, it is impossible for me to convey to you how significantly the Army Rugby Brotherhood will change your life.
The first time you pick up a rugby ball, it will feel foreign and strange. You will be surrounded by some of the strongest, wisest, and toughest people that you have ever come to see. There you will stand, young and clueless, but determined. You won’t know how to play, and you will feel endlessly insecure about your ability to learn and grow in a sport you have never even watched. Do not be discouraged. This is your greatest exercise in humility.
Humility is not the simple acceptance of inferiority. To be humble is to deliberately recognize your shortcomings and then to be open to guidance from those around you. “Put the WE over ME” and work to improve in any capacity that you can to help the team climb.
Learn to be uncomfortable, learn to ask questions, and learn to be humble enough to accept your role and be the best you possibly can at it.
The best advice that I can give you is a quote from Marcus Aurelius, “Never be caught complaining…Not even to yourself.” Use this to remind yourself to be grateful and to see every misstep, failure, or poor condition as an opportunity to forge a better version of you. Learn to be uncomfortable, learn to ask questions, and learn to be humble enough to accept your role and be the best you possibly can at it.
Take no shortcuts. Over the next couple months, the strangers down at Anderson Rugby Complex will become your brothers, and you will learn the values necessary to stay a part of the family. Part of this contract is that you will have to put forth your full effort in everything you do. Never rob yourself of the opportunity to improve, and never give the brotherhood less than your full measure. Every repetition, every drill, every game, regardless of the stakes, your team demands your best. Taking shortcuts shows complacency and arrogance and breeds excuses, all of which you should avoid. Find peace in the grind.
Work hard early. Rather than being a victim and acting in reaction to your surroundings, be anticipatory and take the initiative. By doing this, you will work to achieve success rather than scramble to avoid failure. When you take the field, you will know that you have done everything that you possibly could have done to prepare yourself to best serve the team. In that preparation, there is peace and confidence. You will trust your brothers with your life, and your dedication and love will earn their trust in return.
You will make many memories on the field, but you will make even more off the field. You are going to have the time of your life when you compete in the College Rugby 7’s National Tournament down in New Orleans in the summer before Firstie year. Aside from the food poisoning that some of the guys got from the po’boys, everyone will have a great time. The lights and sounds of New Orleans will draw you in and set the stage for an exciting weekend, a weekend full of all-star plays by Matt, dirt naps from Dougie, and some intense gator sightings out on the bayou. One minute you’re competing on the national stage, and the next minute you’ll find yourself dancing on Bourbon Street with the boys and the Bourbon Street brick. Don’t ask about the brick, just take my word for it.
As you enter your Firstie year, you will be elected captain of the team. Once again, you will doubt yourself. You will convince yourself you do not deserve it and that any other brother that you know is equally, if not more deserving of the position. Still to this day, I believe that to be true. But the reality is, you are the captain, and your brothers will be counting on you to fill that role. The task will appear daunting and insurmountable, but you will not face it alone. Your brothers will be there every step of the way.
In your final season you will face harrowing challenges, and you will fail many times. Every failure will come with its own list of excuses that you can use to deflect the responsibility. Own it all. The failures, the victories, the whole lot. More often than not, you cannot control the situation you find yourself in; but you can always control how you react to it. With this in mind, use every situation as an opportunity to better yourself for the sake of the team. Lean on your brothers when you need them and support them when they need you.
The climb to the National Championship will be long and treacherous and will require every single player to give everything all the time. Your hard work will pay off early and the team will find historic levels of success. After every completed goal, remind yourself, “Next job,” and refocus on the next task at hand. Do not get complacent. Every success becomes a new standard of performance, and you will have to work harder each and every week to continue to climb. Do this, and you will reach the championship game.
When the final whistle blows, you and your brothers will be national champions. Enjoy the moment and celebrate. The championship trophy, the medals, and the congratulations you will receive will be nice, and you should be grateful for it all. But soon you will come to know the true treasure that lies at the summit of the climb -- the relationships that you built with your brothers through shared hardship and living your values. These relationships are the real prize, and your brothers will deserve your eternal gratitude.
The journey you are about to embark on is not an easy one. It will be full of failure and sacrifice. But it will also be full of the most fun, memorable, and rewarding experiences you will ever come to know. Cherish every moment you have with your friends and teammates and be grateful for every ounce of support you receive along the way.
Work hard early, take no shortcuts, love your brothers, and be grateful for everything.
Step into the arena.
Sincerely,
- Nolan Green, West Point Class of 2022