It's been 20 years since I was a high school pole vaulter. I had a really successful career: a state championship, a 16'7" personal best, and a Division 1 scholarship. (Yes, I was that guy who told everyone he was "going D1." We'll get to that.) And there's still a whole list of things I'd change.

In the first-ever solo episode of One More Jump, I go back 20 years and walk through the nine things I wish I'd done differently in high school, from refreshing the Illinois state rankings ten times a day, to being afraid of the weight room, to kicking a folding chair in front of the whole crowd after losing state my senior year. Now that coaching high school vaulters is my career, these are the exact mistakes I watch talented kids make every season.

The nine things I'd change:

1. I wish I would've stayed in my lane and stopped comparing myself to everyone else
2. I wish I would've understood that no single workout or meet makes you or breaks you
3. I wish I would've controlled my emotions and, honestly, just shut my mouth
4. I wish I would've realized that more pain doesn't mean more progress
5. I wish I would've gotten in the weight room earlier
6. I wish I would've believed in my own way of jumping a little bit more
7. I wish I would've picked my college with my intuition instead of my pride
8. I wish I would've finished the race my senior year
9. I wish I was less of a vibe killer

If you're a young vaulter, take a minute after this one and ask which of these applies to you right now. And if you're a parent or a coach, you'll recognize somebody you know in here. Probably several somebodies.

One More Jump is brought to you by RISE Pole Vault in Joliet, Illinois, where we've coached over 1.2 million vaults and counting, for everyone from kids picking up a pole for the first time to Olympic Trials finalists. We keep vaulters across the country on the right pole through our nationwide pole rental program, and we sell pole vault and track and field equipment too. Training, rentals, and gear at risepolevault.com.