Today, my family and I went back to school to play pickleball, and we ran into that junior who's currently a freshman. In my opinion, aside from the one who’s already on the school pickleball team, he is the most talented among the freshmen.

Standing close to 1.8 meters tall, he has a significant edge at the net with his volleys and powerful overheads. His serve is lightning-fast and goes just over the net with high quality. His forehand smashes are also quite threatening. If he can solidify his backhand and net drop shots a bit more, he would definitely become a key player for the school's pickleball team.

Seeing this junior with such talent, I previously recommended him to the school pickleball team, and they accepted him. However, after our chat today, he decided to back out, which really shocked me. Of course, he gave various reasons for his exit, like being busy with major courses and wanting to participate in other club activities. But from our past experiences, those things really don't matter much after graduation.

Most graduates find that the knowledge they gained in college is hardly applicable after they leave, unless they’re in some niche fields. The clubs mainly involve low-key activities that don’t really build skills, so letting those connections slide isn’t a big deal. But hey, that’s just my two cents.

Honestly, dedicating yourself to mastering a sport during college is totally worth it. You get to sweat, cry, and laugh with your teammates, which is invaluable. Those teammates often end up being the ones you stay in touch with the most after graduation, sometimes even more than your classmates in major-related courses. I wonder if anyone else feels that way.

The current school teams have super structured training with experienced seniors and dedicated teachers, and it’s free! That’s a golden opportunity.

Once you enter the workforce, finding time to systematically practice those skills again is tough. Plus, hiring a coach after you start working can be pricey—like, a pickleball coach nowadays can charge around 300 yuan per hour, which is a heavy burden for many. Getting the chance to train these skills systematically in college is a huge advantage for future job prospects, especially since pickleball coaches are currently in high demand.

Plus, having a standout sports skill is super useful, no matter where you end up working in the future. It expands your network and opens up a ton of potential opportunities. Also, these sports can really shape your character, like building resilience and being upbeat; those qualities are key.

Take me for example, I joined the school table tennis team years ago, and that experience kept me in the ping pong scene for 15 years after graduation. I've met a lot of big players and mentors through it and stayed close with my old school buddies. Whether it was in my previous cross-border e-commerce venture or now in the blockchain space, these ping pong friends have been closely connected to my journey.

Moreover, sports can really strengthen family ties. For instance, my table tennis skills got my kids involved in training alongside me, and my wife is in on it too. Now, our family of four has added pickleball to the mix, and we’re hitting the court at least four times a week. Sharing the same sport, discussing techniques, and playing together has been fantastic for our family bond.