Lily Hagan: Using Sports to Teach Life Lessons

Lily Hagan ’28, a communication major with a minor in public relations and journalism, thrives as a Mighty Mac on the Immaculata University women’s softball team and credits the experience with teaching her to embrace discomfort and take risks. Hagan says she’s found a supportive community of coaches and professors at Immaculata who have shown her that giving your best effort, no matter the arena or even sometimes the outcome, leads to growth and opportunity.

One opportunity that Hagan jumped at was an internship with 92.5 XTU, where she assists with behind-the-scenes tasks, such as creating “Minute to Win It” questions, occasionally going on air and writing weekly blog posts on various human-interest topics.

In a recent post titled “From Heartbreak to Growth: The Game That Changed My Perspective on Sports and Life,” Hagan reflected on the Phillies’ playoff loss to the Dodgers, sparked by a game-ending error by the pitcher, and connected it to broader lessons in resilience. As someone who hopes to pursue a career in radio or broadcast journalism, sharing her experiences with other athletes and sports fans is a tremendous opportunity.

Drawing from her own experiences as an athlete, Hagan emphasized that sports are deeply mental and teach lessons that extend far beyond the game. Among the key takeaways she highlighted are that failure is inevitable but fosters growth and self-awareness; that kindness matters even when no one is watching; that a single mistake does not define a person; and that “every challenge and setback carries a lesson if you’re willing to pause, reflect and be present,” she wrote.

Hagan’s student-athlete journey has always been as much about personal growth as athletic achievement, and she had no idea how much sports and the game of softball would ultimately shape her life.

During her sophomore year of high school, she faced burnout and even considered quitting the sport. Her coach helped her reframe her struggles as life lessons in disguise. Inspired by this shift in perspective, Hagan began writing about her experiences as a way to help and remind herself of the strength that comes from perseverance.

That perseverance was tested again when Hagan originally intended to play collegiate softball at another university. When that school’s coach left before the semester began, she had to restart her search. It was her mother who then suggested Immaculata University.

Looking back, Hagan says that decision, though a pivot from the original plan, changed everything, leading to better opportunities and helping her find her place on the Immaculata softball team among teammates she credits as a major source of motivation in times of trial and in triumph. They’ve helped her navigate a sport she describes as “a game of failure,” adding that the trust and support they all share with each other have helped them grow as both athletes and individuals.

When asked what advice she would give to prospective students, it mirrors the lessons she’s learned through softball and life at Immaculata: embrace the unknown, trust the process and value the people around you.

Principles that support what Hagan considers the ultimate lesson of all: “Failure is your friend. It is an opportunity for growth in disguise, and the sooner you embrace it, the sooner you will become a better version of yourself in ways you never thought possible.”