Dear Younger Me: Maggie Malone

Jun 16, 2020

Maggie Malone grew up as a multi-sport athlete in a small town of 2,000 people and one stoplight in Nebraska. The Fillmore Central 2012 graduate didn't have any previous experience throwing the javelin, but that soon changed as she stepped foot on the campus of University of Nebraska. She became the Outdoor Big 10 champion in 2014 with a throw of 181-8. Malone decided to transfer to Texas A&M to be closer to her family and to train under Juan "Chico" De La Garza, the throwers coach for the Aggies. After consistent hard work and dedication, Malone threw a personal best and collegiate record in the javelin of 204-0 at the 2016 Outdoor NCAA Championships. A few weeks later, she won the U.S. Olympic Trials and earned a spot at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. She's still focused on her dream to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

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Let's face it, Maggie, you will never be perfect, no matter how hard you try (and, no, you can't jump higher and hit harder). But you can commit to continual growth, because if you stop growing, if you become stagnant and stay in your comfort zone, you'll die there.

So TAKE RISKS.

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Maggie Malone - Collegiate Record Holder in the Javelin

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Dear Younger Me,

So I'm going to be straight with you. This is something that took me a long time to understand and I want you to know it now.

Your accomplishments, awards, and achievements do not earn you love. Not from your family, your friends, spectators, and certainly not yourself.

Your self-worth is NOT a culmination of how others perceive you, or what you've done.

You cannot and should not be what the world wants you to be.

Stop comparing yourself to the girls around you. They're not you, and you're not them.

You don't have to comply with the outside world's standard of skinny. You are NOT fat. You are NOT ugly. You don't have to have a 6-pack (yes, that would be fun, but you don't have to). You don't have to be quiet. You don't have to try and be funny. You don't have to try to, "fit in." You don't have to be the "best" at anything.

Be you.

You're going to fail. You will. And before you tell me that you'll work as hard as you can so that you don't fail, I'm going to tell you that there is nothing you can do to PREVENT failure.

Let it happen. It's good. You will learn more in these times of failure than you ever will during success.

Yes, go ahead and cry during those moments. Be upset. Be angry. Be whatever emotion you want... but then pick yourself off, wash your face, and get back to work.

You are in the pursuit of PROGRESS, not perfection.

This world is going to tell you differently. Many times and in many different ways. But, don't let anyone else's idea of what's valuable in this world affect the way you see what's valuable.

YOU are valuable. And not because of anything that you have done, but because of what HE has done. Yep. I went there. What JESUS has done for you. He says you are valuable.

He is the only one that knows your heart and intentions. He is the only one that will be there at all times and in your weakest moments.

Lean into Him.

Maggie, I can't tell you how valuable you are. I can't tell you how amazing you are. God has big plans for your life. Don't laugh, he does. He will give you a platform in your amazing sport (one that you don't even know exists yet) from where you will be able to affect the lives of many people. Your voice will be heard.

I'm not going to tell you one of the biggest things that will happen to you in your future. All I will say is that you'll never see it coming. There will be some hurts that are part of this story, but you'll realize how blessed you are and you'll learn more about yourself through those moments. And, during this time, it will shape you into becoming the woman you WANT to become.