As a dual athlete in the middle of his high school career, for sophomore Mitchell Haberman, the world can get a little stressful. Practice, game times, homework, essays, projects– they can build up and cloud his thinking.

To get away from the stream, break off from the constant barrage of thoughts and suggestions, Mitchell golfs in his free time.

Every weekend during the school year, occasionally after school, and three times a week during the summer, he gets out on the course as much as he can.

“I can just go out there; being by yourself with nature is peaceful,” Mitchell said. “It’s [not a sport for me]; it’s relaxing.”

It’s easy to get competitive when involved in sports. This mindset can be a healthy one if handled well, but Mitchell can occasionally get heated in his race against himself and other people.

The anger comes from him thinking too much and pressuring and looking down on himself because he knows he can do better than he is doing. He’s more serious about the competition. He’s thinking and getting angry, taking things overboard rather than having fun and doing his best.

When times like these come, Mitchell goes golfing.

“In other sports, noise is a big contributor. But golf is quiet and peaceful, you’re pretty much all by yourself,” Mitchell said. “It’s stabilizing and a great stress reliever. You have time to breathe… Nobody is telling you what to do.”

In everyday life, Mitchell has used the skills golf has taught him to do better.

Working on a test or taking apart a big personal problem, if stress is a factor, he might rush through it and try to get it over with and make a lot of mistakes along the way. But if he calms down, he can pace and sustain himself and give room to check for error.

Mitchell has used golf not as a sport, but as an outlet to teach himself important values in his life.

“That’s what I’ve learned: take it slow and get it right,” Mitchell said. “Calm down, take it one moment at a time, persevere.”