At Lehman College, students gathered for an interactive workshop designed to help them perform consistently in high-pressure situations. The event featured guest speaker Paul Groenewal, a consulting performance psychologist for the Brooklyn Nets, who spoke about how mental skills can improve performance.
"We are delighted to bring a speaker with Paul's expertise and years of experience with world-class athletes to Lehman to meet with our student-athletes," said Ryan McCarthy, director of athletics and APEX facilities. "Paul presented practical and applicable exercises our student-athletes can utilize in enhancing their athletic performance and mental well-being."
Groenewal focused on how mindset affects performance, especially through positive self-talk. He explained that students who can control their thoughts are more likely to perform better under pressure.
When asked about the main takeaway, Groenewal said students should have "a belief that they can have a positive impact on their performance through mental skills that allow them to better control their mind and psychology."
He also discussed how aggression connects to performance. He explained that performance is low when aggression is too low but improves at a moderate level, where people can reach a flow state and perform at their best.
The session included activities that allowed Lehman College students to practice these techniques. One exercise involved tensing and relaxing muscles to reduce stress, while another focused on breathing slowly to stay calm in pressure situations. Students also took part in a reading activity that showed how the brain can understand words even when the middle letters are scrambled.
When asked how his work with the Brooklyn Nets relates to students, Groenewal said the same skills apply to everyone. "Performers are performers," he said, explaining that these techniques help people be more effective under pressure.
Students said they found the session useful and relatable. Francisco Gonzalez-Sanchez, a current men's track & field student-athlete, said, "As a psychology major and exercise science minor, it was refreshing to see a professional within the developing field. Many people are not fully aware of how much mental well-being and adaptability also goes into a physically demanding sport. By amplifying discussions as these with Paul, we can continue taking care of our mind and bodies and cohesively work towards our potential."
Overall, the workshop gave Lehman College students simple tools they can use to improve performance, both in sports and in other areas.
