Stop Measuring Your Progress Against Someone Else's Highlight Reel

Guest Blog by Izzy Berardino

The WIN Room™ Intern

Division I Athlete at Bryant University

6AM lift. Back-to-back classes. Team meeting before lunch.

This is my norm as a Division I athlete. Every day is structured around performance. Train. Recover. Compete. Repeat.

One afternoon in class, I overheard three classmates talking about the internships and job offers they had already secured after graduation. In that moment, I felt something heavier than any weight I’d lifted that morning.

Everyone else seemed to have their post-graduation life mapped out.

I was still trying to figure out what classes to take next semester.

I couldn’t help but feel behind. Like, where I was at was miles away from everyone else. Like they all knew something I didn't.

The truth is, they didn’t know more than me, they simply knew how to use their knowledge to their advantage.

The Pressure No One Talks About

Being a Division I athlete means you’re always training for something. There’s always a next game, a next lift, a next goal.

No one really prepares you for the uncertainty of what comes after college.

While some students are stacking internships and networking at happy hours, many others are:

• Feeling unsure about where to start their career journey

• Managing their academic and social priorities

• Balancing demanding classwork

• Trying to keep their GPA strong

It can feel like you're playing two full-time roles and still wondering if you’re falling behind.

Many college students feel this pressure. Graduation approaches, and suddenly the structure that guided the last four years disappears. No more 8:00am classes to get you out of bed, no academic advisors guiding you along the way. It’s just you.

The question becomes: What happens next?

 Izzy Berardino competing for Bryant University. Training for the race, and for what comes next.

The Conversation That Changed My Perspective

That’s when I reached out to Jaime Diglio. I connected with her through her husband who was my high school track and cross-country coach and taught me the foundations of teamwork, leadership, and, most importantly, how to perform under pressure. As a former college athlete herself, Jaime immediately understood where I was coming from.

She explained how many of the traits developed through athletics translate directly to the professional world, especially when navigating major career transitions.

At first, I expected advice about resumes or long-term career planning

Instead, she said something I’ll never forget: “You’re comparing your behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel. You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you need to be.”

That hit hard.

Jaime explained that every major transition requires a different kind of training. Not physical training. Leadership training. Moving from student athlete to professional is not just about finding a job, it’s about learning how to understand your strengths, communicate your value, and lead yourself into the next chapter. 

Her coaching focuses on helping people train their mindset and leadership the same way athletes train to perform. The goal is to move from self-doubt to self-leadership by getting clear on what you want, practicing how you show up, and building confidence through real practice drills.

For someone navigating the uncertainty of life after college, that kind of training can change how you approach the entire next chapter.

The Lesson I Wish Every Student Learned Earlier

Working with Jaime taught me what no one tells you early enough:

Speak up and ask for what you need.

Most students assume everyone else is ahead. The reality is that many people are navigating uncertainty in private.

The most successful people don’t have it all figured out. They:

• Ask better questions

• Seek mentorship

• Build relationships intentionally

• Take action before they feel fully ready

These are skills that most classrooms don’t teach.

Working with Jaime taught me something every student needs to know: speak up and ask for what you need. Most students assume everyone else has it figured out, but in reality many people are navigating their uncertainty privately. 

Research on imposter syndrome shows that people often believe others are more capable or confident than they are, even though these feelings are extremely common among students and professionals,

A New Playbook for Students 

Transitions can feel overwhelming, especially when you are moving from a structured environment like college athletics into the professional world.

That is exactly why Jaime recently launched The WIN League for young professionals, a training ground  designed specifically for ambitious students who want to train for what comes after graduation.

Inside the program, students learn how to:

• Build confidence beyond their sport or degree

• Develop the mindset and communication skills employers look for

• Navigate interviews and early career decisions

• Position their experience as a leadership advantage

• Land the job you actually want

Because being a Division I athlete already proves you have discipline, resilience, and leadership. You just need to learn how to translate that into the professional world.

You’re Not Behind

If you’re sitting in class wondering why everyone else seems ahead, hear this:

You’re not behind. You’re in transition.

Transitions are where growth happens. They are also easier to navigate when you have the right coaching and community around you.

If you’re ready to stop feeling stuck and start training the skills that set you apart, check out The WIN League and take training for your next chapter.