You never get a second chance at making a good first impression. We have all heard that before. And yes, it is true.

What do you convey about yourself in an email or a social media post? You communicate not only your intended message but you communicate something about yourself.

I ask all teachers to ask themselves what a parent will think when they receive an email from their child’s teacher that is sloppy, misspelled, grammatically incorrect, or impersonal. I can predict that they will focus on the email’s construction rather than the message contained. I can also just about guarantee that this parent’s opinion of the teacher will change, and it will not change for the better.

The same is true when you send that graded test home for the parents to review. If the test is sloppy, poorly written or a general mess, what will those parents think? I do not think that they will nominate you for any teacher of the year award. They may question your intelligence or your commitment to educating their child.

The student-athlete, when communicating with a college coach, must follow the same rubric. Make sure these communications are neat, not rushed, complete, spelled correctly and personal. College coaches will quickly review poorly constructed emails and may send them straight to the trash. Just like the parent mentioned in the paragraph above, that college coach may question the athlete’s overall mental capacity or his or her commitment to their university. It may shine a light on the athletes’ overall commitment to playing at the next level at their school.

Slow down. Take your time. Do it right. Write like a champion!