Ambition is a large qualifier for the perfect Wofford student candidate. There are varying negative degrees of ambition; self-destructive ambition, which can be shown when power starts getting to high society’s heads, or flightless ambition in those of us who have a vast skillset but pressures holding us back.
Everyone comes to this college with their own levels of competitiveness and grit, but overall, students are here to make something of themselves. Ambition is a tightrope, and one way students balance their competitiveness can be found in a socially acceptable light: the tradition of sports betting and gambling.
The federal ban on sports betting in America in 2018 was quickly rebutted as the states legalized within their jurisdictions. In South Carolina, online sports betting is still illegal, and our governor, Henry McMaster, is in strong opposition of gambling.
However, the practice of casual sports betting prevails throughout the state, including but not limited to Wofford. As football season picks up this fall, so does fantasy football betting. Not only that, but Wofford has a long-standing tradition of participating in poker, going to the point of offering a poker interim (money is not involved of course).
This year, sports betting remains as competitive as years past. Bets can get high on fantasy football leagues, some participants are even willing to offer up to a confident $200. At this point, students study the data of their teams to gain a skillset to get the most profit.
Their dedication rivals the athletes they are betting on, and though some may view this as negative, this is an example of a good balance of ambition. This school encourages a healthy balance of competitiveness, but there will always be an underlying push from this environment to do more, especially considering how difficult it was to arrive here.
As we push ourselves to succeed, the degrees of ambition can be observed as we watch our peers let themselves be swept into the hysteria of success. Many students have grown up with high expectations placed upon them to go far in life by themselves and their surroundings, but the pressure that is being applied to them often stunts personal growth and mental health.
To be an advocate for sports betting at Wofford, the relief of casual competitiveness can teach the too-big-to-fail student how to handle their ambition. Competitive spirit can push anyone to want to go far in life, but it comes at a cost if its power is not checked.
As long as the mindset stepping into sports betting is “it’s just a game” rather than “double or nothing,” the benefits of the betting community can be immense in the long term growth of an individual at Wofford.
