A young woman walks into the main lobby before her hockey game. Three opposing male team members are resting there before the game. One of the males makes eye contact with the woman, turns to his teammate, and impolitely asks, “Can girls play in this league?” The woman contemplatively replies, “Well, I am a girl…”As a female athlete who plays a male-dominated sport, I have faced a great deal of adversity during my athletic experiences. Over the years, I have reflected on what it means to me to persevere through the difficulty of being seen as different. I think about how early in life parents try to develop their children’s life skills through team sports. Many hope their children will learn how to listen, practice, commit, and treat others with respect. I realized that being on time to my practice and games would not only increase my time management skills, but also show my commitment to my team. Life experiences, such as athletics, present an opportunity to develop and learn. It’s evident that there is a connection between these experiences and success through the skills gained. As a professional, I now spend my days influencing people about the importance of job readiness and soft skills. Through these work experiences, I’ve realized that my role as a female athlete in a “boys’ sport” has helped me acquire many of the soft skills needed to succeed in my career. Adversity teaches us that we can preserve from challenges and hardship. In the workplace, we may face difficult bosses and colleagues, hard projects, and rejection. With teamwork, individuals must understand how to be respectful and appreciative of diversity. The workplace, like athletic leagues, is made up of people from many cultures and backgrounds. Successful professionals understand how to work well with people who are different from themselves. My advice to anyone working with students or clients is to encourage them to embrace their diversity and overcome adversity to pursue success in life and in the workplace. Remind your students or clients that soft skills can be developed in previous jobs, but they also develop in the classroom and via personal life experiences, as well.