Waterpolo Organizations and Inspirational Professors

Waterpolo Organizations and Inspirational Professors

Every week, I am writing essays on various topics. Today, let's talk about waterpolo organizations and the inspiring professors I encountered at Pepperdine University.

Pepperdine University and Extraordinary Professors

My wife and I both attended Pepperdine University, where I had three extraordinary professors: Dr. Sexton (economics), Professor Batchelder (economics), and Professor Glenn Webb (religion and philosophy).

Dr. Sexton: Empathy for Student Athletes

Dr. Sexton was extraordinary because he gave me the opportunity to love economics. He understood the student-athlete experience in college and provided a framework in class that allowed us to prioritize our time. He encouraged us to excel in the subject and made us feel special.

Professor Glenn Webb: Eastern Religion and Philosophy

Professor Webb taught Eastern religion and philosophy at a Christian conservative school. He wholeheartedly believed in the subject and wanted people to understand different perspectives. As a Juilliard pianist, he had a lot of patience and empathy, making the subject engaging for us. His teachings involved meditation and upright thinking, giving us the opportunity to dive deep into the topic.

Professor Batchelder: Living the Material

Professor Batchelder was extraordinary because he lived the material like no other economics professor. He talked about every decision being the science of choice and used frameworks to judge and evaluate them. He was authentic, passionate, and generous with his time, bringing real-world examples into the classroom.

How Inspirational Professors Relate to Waterpolo Organizations

These teachers inspired me, and I believe that waterpolo organizations should have the same type of leaders. My takeaways from this experience are to model my behavior after these people and try to channel their passion and dedication when working with athletes.

The Fundamental Aspect: Giving Kids a Chance to be Good

The fundamental aspect of that economics department was giving kids a chance to be good. By providing autonomy, they allowed us to learn from our mistakes and grow. I hope that other coaches and leaders in waterpolo organizations can also apply this approach, engaging with the athletes and giving them a chance to excel.

Jesse Smith Team USA Captain www.gosmithnow.com