life – J.P. Pressley

I’m Choosing To Step Away From Basketball

September 22, 2018 No Comments

True story.

This year, for the first time since I was eligible back in elementary school, I won’t be playing organized basketball. And this isn’t because of some eligibility requirement or a gruesome injury.

Academically, I’m cruising. Physically, even with my asthma, I’m in one of the best conditions I’ve ever been in. Mentally, I’m tight. Shoot, I’m even growing spiritually.

I’m not ending my basketball career a month before the start of my final collegiate season because of a shortcoming in any of these areas. There’s no reason I can’t continue my college basketball career. But I’m choosing not to.

The opportunity cost is simply too high.

The Serious

The Purpose of Life

January 2, 2018 No Comments

It’s a new year – 2018. And with a new year comes new year resolutions. For the next few weeks our gyms will be crowded, our libraries bustling, and our alarm clocks adhered to. Then February will hit, and the majority of people who made new year resolutions will soon fall off if they haven’t already. If you made any new year resolutions, I wish you the best in becoming one of the few to actually achieve your goal(s). Personally, however, I didn’t make a new years resolution. I didn’t need to. Day in and day out, my resolution has been the same for a couple of years now, and will continue to be the same in all the days and years to come. For my resolution is my ultimate life goal: to

The New Adult

Week 17 – Progress Is Determined By Action

December 16, 2017 No Comments

Much to my joy, finals are over. And with that, my first semester at The King’s College has come to a close. Thus far, I’ve shared a good portion of my outside-the-classroom learnings and revelations with you in previous The New Adult posts. But as I reflect on my semester, I realized there’s one more thing I need to remind you of before the end of the year: progress is determined by action.

This isn’t a novel concept. In fact, even if

The Serious

Strengthen Your Mind

December 12, 2017 No Comments

Academics just aren’t for everyone. In America, it’s typically seen as the best way to get ahead, and that may very well be true, but that doesn’t mean it’s the way to get ahead for each individual. The proof of this lies in many of the both small and large business owners in America today, let alone sports, art, etc. Because of this, if people tell me that, despite how hard they try, they don’t do well in school and have decided to discontinue their academic career in the pursuit of something else, I don’t think any less of them. If anything, I regard them more highly due to their courage to even make that decision. Yet and still, even if academics aren’t your thing, you need to strengthen your mind.

As you could probably assume, I don’t mean academics. Going to school isn’t the only way to

The Serious

Don’t Be Dead Before You Die

December 5, 2017 No Comments

Okay, I’m still trying to shake a mild concussion I got this past weekend so this post is going to be short (even more so than usual). I just want to remind you about one thing: don’t be dead before you die.

Confused? Don’t be. All I mean is that

The Serious

Just Start

November 28, 2017 No Comments

If it weren’t for Nike, I probably would’ve titled this post “Just Do It.” But, you know, trademarks. Anyway, the reason for this is because Nike got it exactly right. Whatever it is you want to do in life – with regards to your health, academics, career, etc. – you just need to get up and do it. You just need to start.

If you feel like this is a simple concept, you’re absolutely right. In fact, it’s so simple that

The New Adult

Week 11 – Squeezing The Most Out Of A Week

November 4, 2017 No Comments

Back in high school, here in college, and (I’m assuming) professionals in the work place often fail to do it. And if they do, then, like me in high school, it may only be for a couple weeks (if that) at a time. But going to college here in New York City, I have no choice if I want to achieve all my goals and aspirations. I have to squeeze the most I can out of every week.

Before I can do that though, I have to make the most out of every day. Doing this takes a combination of

The Serious

Pushing Through Pain

October 31, 2017 1 Comment

Michael Jordan’s flu game, a significant amount of J.J. Watt’s games, and Isaiah Thomas’ continuing to play after losing a tooth; there’s a reason we praise them. Playing through pain is an admirable quality that we don’t take for granted. In fact, it’s a quality that many seek to attain and grow. But pushing through pain isn’t just limited to sports. In fact, pushing through pain is necessary for one to live their fullest life.

The Serious

A Simple Reminder About Procrastination

October 24, 2017 2 Comments

At some point or another, most everyone does it. We keep putting off that one thing, or things, until the last minute…if we even get to them at all. Typically it happens with work (academic or otherwise), but sometimes it stretches to the everyday parts of our lives. Either way, procrastination is the thief of time, and thus something we could all stand to get rid of.

But I’m not going to tell you how to do that. There are

The New Adult

Week 9 – The Learning Curve (It’s Not Academic)

October 21, 2017 No Comments

Over two months into my college education here in NYC, I’m finally getting into the swing of things. I feel like I’ve almost passed the learning curve. But when I say that I’m not talking about pure academics. Honestly, my college learning curve has been with everything outside of the classroom.