Wearing a Team Canada jacket, Alyssa Weninger, 2004 graduate of Unity Composite High School, returned to her alma mater to share tips and strategies that have resulted in her success so far.
You could see the emotion as proud teachers hugged their former student, thrilled with what she has achieved since being under their tutelage. There was excitement from the staff at her return visit and students were obviously enthralled with her presentation as you could hear a pin drop throughout the session.
Alyssa reviewed the elements of her success journey to illustrate to students the value of the key components of successful planning and executing in achieving goals. She said she is proud to call Unity home and was most humbled at re-entering the halls of UCHS.
Weninger spoke about the profound feeling of wearing a Team Canada jersey when you came from small-town Saskatchewan. She also reiterated she believes her hard work ethic was fostered in the community and grew as a student of UCHS.
Alyssa originally had no idea rowing was a sport. She showed the students a brief clip from Discovery Channel on her in action with her team, giving students a chance to visualize and learn about what she does. She revealed her strategies for her success and reminded students these "secrets" can apply to all areas of your life.
During high school, Weninger participated in all sports and loved it. She started competing in marathons at age 16 and also began her love of cycling. She recalled when she biked to another town, then challenged herself to ride 213 km past Saskatoon. While her parents were apprehensive at the danger, her dad accompanied her but ended up being picked up in Biggar while his daughter cycled to her destination. She competed in the Canada Summer Games as well as Saskatchewan Summer Games as a cyclist.
She said she may not have been the fastest or the strongest but she loved what she was doing more than anyone and was often the first to practice and the last to leave following practice or an event.
She told the students many consider her having the coolest life as she gets her sports paid for and travels the world; however, they don't realize she is in the weight room and exercising for as long as students are in class at UCHS; that does not include rowing time. Practice is three times a day and weekends. She has learned to value proper rest and nutrition, combined with the training regimen.
Alyssa told students setting goals is the most important thing to do in your life. You need to know what you want; you can help define your goals by singling out what you don't want. She discussed the importance of writing down goals and reviewing them regularly, saying only three per cent of adults have written goals and they have proved to be the most successful adults.
Alyssa has her goals written in her bedroom, on a mirror in her home and even in her car to remind her daily of where she wants to be. Her goal is not just to be at the Olympics but to medal at the Olympics.
"Goals are like a map and they help guide you to how to get to your destination. But these must be visual as that helps you focus on them directly and daily, and helps keep me on track," she said.
She also told students it is OK to want to be a winner. Participating in high performance sports you must live by the results. There are high expectations for the athlete from themselves, their coaches and country.
She said one of the best pieces of advice she received was from the owner of lululemon in Saskatoon who reminded her to become the CEO of her own business, or career. She knows she can't blame anyone for failing to meet her goals. She recognizes the need to take responsibility for her own life and, when she does, she knows her destiny will follow.
She implored students to choose friends wisely. Surround yourself with people who do what you do as it will become enjoyable sharing the same passions and activities. When she moved from Unity to Saskatoon to Victoria with her sports, she was at an event and recognized half of the attendees had been part of the Olympics and knew this was the direction she wanted to go. She now lives and trains in London, Ont.
A valuable lesson she outlined for students was the difference between being selfish and being self-focused. Wanting the best is not selfish because it involves a more difficult path and less money but is doing what makes you the happiest. She also reminded the audience that, with so much time centred on personal goals, family time is reduced so she stressed the importance of "when you're in the room - be in the room!"
The balance in her life right now is 95 per cent on high performance sports, three per cent family and two per cent unrelated. She knows it is hard to say no to others but understands it is the price you pay for being self-focused on your dreams and goals.
Weiniger told students, "Training your mind is harder than training the body. You need to always tell yourself to believe in yourself and to keep the body going when it is screaming to stop."
She also told students the value of teamwork, as well as asking for help. The worst anyone can say is "No" and you won't know until you ask. Training and competing is costly and, with little money available to athletes , it is important to ask for a leg up and then credit those people for helping you reach your goals.
"Make your own luck. Build habits that lead to excellence as luck is only as good as the commitment towards the goal you have set," Alyssa heralded. "Success is a large part of who can outlast, who gets up the most when they fall and keeps going no matter what."
She closed by reminding students of the importance of a thank you card and gratitude to acknowledge those who have helped you work towards or achieve your goals.
Weninger is currently working towards a spot on the Canadian Olympic rowing team for 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is a member of the women's national rowing team. Along with rigorous training she will also complete in World Cup events, the Commonwealth games in 2014 and the Pan Am Games in 2015, all leading towards a spot on Canada's women's Olympic rowing team.
The desire and commitment required to pursue a dream of representing Canada on an international stage requires athletes to move to the training centre and contribute to their own living expenses, for which private donations and sponsorships are sought. With the long hours devoted to training, athletes don't have time to hold down full-time jobs and rely on outside sources to assist them.
The projected costs for Alyssa from 2013 to the Olympic year is $99,000, which includes fuel, insurance, travel home once a year, health insurance, food, athletic gear, moving expenses, etc. Sport Canada funding is limited as it is spread across a number of different competitive sports.
Principal Maureen Robertson said they were thrilled when the former student consented to present her strategies for success to the students. Alyssa's tips help connect with the career goals UCHS sets out. She remembers Weninger as a helpful and caring student and said, "Leadership comes in many different ways, and Alyssa is one of those quiet leaders."
It was an exciting afternoon at UCHS meeting a training Team Canada athlete, who may be part of Canada's Olympic team. It was humbling for Alyssa herself as she said it was a short 10 years ago she walked those same hallways, and now she had the wonderful opportunity of sharing her success story with current students.
