In the last decade, women have scored a touchdown in the sports industry by becoming more involved in male-dominated sports, especially football. Thursday, April 18, New York Giants Director of Wellness and Clinic Services and Player Engagement Dr. Lani Lawrence returned to Sacred Heart Greenwich alongside Ms. Laura Young, New York Giants Director of Coaching Operations. After her presentation to the Upper School last March, Dr. Lawrence continued discussing mental toughness, specifically in an athletic setting.
Dr. Lawrence played basketball and received her undergraduate education at Northeastern University. She then received a master’s degree in Education in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on sports psychology from Boston University. Following her time in Boston, she went on to obtain her Doctor of Psychology degree from the University of Denver. Dr. Lawrence then pursued both her pre and post-doctoral internships at the University of Southern California (USC). She worked with United States of America (USA) Track and Field before joining the New York Giants organization.
Ms. Laura Young received her bachelor’s degree in sports medicine from the University of the Pacific. She then held positions with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and the Buffalo Bills before joining the Giants as the first female to hold a coaching position in the organization’s history, according to giants.com.
During her presentation to the Upper School, Dr. Lawrence responded to the question she often receives: how to manage rejection and mistakes. She emphasized the importance of eliminating comparison to others who seem to possess unattainable and desired talents. Instead of succumbing to self-doubt, individuals should focus on what they themselves are good at and learn from rather than compete with others’ strengths.
Her presentation also focused on mindset, specifically growth and fixed mindsets. A growth mindset refers to someone who is continually willing to learn new things and adjust, whereas a fixed mindset refers to someone who views traits as permanent and unchangeable, according to online.hbs.edu. Dr. Lawrence encouraged Sacred Heart students to adopt a growth mindset.
“What I would encourage you all to have is a growth mindset, ” Dr. Lawrence said. “And to know that the more challenges you put in front of yourself, that is what’s going to help you grow, even if you’re not successful. Just that experience alone is going to teach you something about yourself and something you can apply in the future.”
She and Ms. Young discussed their roles as women in a male-dominated field. Dr. Lawrence explained how gaining the players’ trust at first was difficult, as men are typically less likely to open up to someone. Despite this, both Dr. Lawrence and Ms. Young emphasized the support and respect they receive from the New York Giants. Dr. Lawrence even described her position as a woman in the field as an asset. She fosters connections with players through her unique perspective as someone who has not played football herself.
After the presentation, Dr. Lani Lawrence met with both the eighth grade and rising Upper School captains for the upcoming school year to discuss leadership and its importance in academic as well as athletic settings. She also met with Lower School students and spoke to seniors in a section of Mrs. Jillian Bozzi’s Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology class, where she gave a more in-depth explanation of her job role and the different psychological approaches she employs. She provided students with advice regarding competition and confidence.
“When thinking about competition, whether it’s in the classroom or in athletics, one thing I really want to make sure you recognize is that you are capable of doing great things,” Dr. Lawrence said. “Just because it may take a little more effort or support [than someone else] doesn’t diminish it.”
Featured Image by Giada Coviello ’24
