this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2023
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Starting to realize what I miss about soccer, and why I enjoy following Arsenal (or just sports in general) and it's to do with how serious the people at that level take their job and work together. I only finished college a few years ago but the adult world really lacks passion. It seems like everybody is only trying to be as good as everyone else, and there's so much fear to give a damn and to try to do better because you might fail. That's how it feels anyway.
I've been a Peace Corps volunteer for a year now and it's just a tough pill to swallow that even folks working for NGOs, hospitals and clinics fighting the tail end of the HIV pandemic are still just going through the motions.
I guess that's what I admire about these teams that are pushing the limits and trying to be the best in the world. They have massive structures for data analysis and medical facilities for the athletes, they are ruthless with people who don't do their job and it all comes down to these 90-minute games where the stakes are very real.
@OlPatchy2Eyes @GunnersBot thanks for serving! I served in Morocco from ‘05-07
I hear what you’re saying but i think money has a lot to do with it; if NGO, doctors, and aid workers were paid what professional footballers were then there would probably be more incentive to be super competitive. The amount of money at stake (and i realize money isn’t the only driver and that these are very competitive people) is why there’s this huge infrastructure around the teams.
Oh neat, didn't think I'd meet another PCV here!
Yeah I recognize the reasons for the differences between pro sports and other sectors but my experiences since graduating have made me appreciate the sports world a lot more than before. Honestly in college I didn't really make time to watch games regularly and certainly didn't read about the goings-on behind the scenes, but now I find I have a renewed respect for the rigour necessary in making a competitive team, especially since my PC service has coincided so nicely with Arsenal's fairly recent ascension. But that's kind of part of service right? Learning these things about yourself. I've realized I want to try putting myself in a more ambitious environment after I'm done here.
@OlPatchy2Eyes learning about yourself and your own plans and ambitions is an important part of the peace corps experience. Glad it’s helping bring some clarity! Similar to you, I came out of my experience not wanting to work in Intl Dev and have since worked in corporate sustainability for the last 15 years. Cheers!