Flipping Into Something New

A message from Delaney, Game On's Summer Intern...

Last Thursday, I swapped my spandex shorts and GW Gymnastics tank top for slacks and a polka dot blouse. Instead of heading to the gym, I walked into the Game On office for the very first time.

I’ve been the newbie before. Don’t get me wrong.

Back in my first week as a freshman at George Washington University, my gymnastics teammates and I gathered in the athletics conference room. Before training could begin, our head coach asked each of us to stand up and recite a page-long essay by Charles Swindoll. It was a tradition that had been passed down through forty teams before ours.

I had practiced all summer, repeating the words:
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life…”

When it was my turn, I stood tall and started strong, eager to impress my new teammates and coaches. But halfway through, my mind went completely blank. There I was, standing in front of strangers, exposed, and failing the very first task placed in front of me.

I stared out at the room, desperate for my brain to deliver just one word. It didn’t. But something else happened instead. I looked around and saw kindness. My teammates, who had known me for only days, started mouthing the next word. They nodded, encouraging me to continue. And then my coach, calm and steady, said, “Just start again. Right from the top.”

Knowing I had already butchered my first performance, my second attempt felt effortless. My teammates clapped and cheered me on with relieved smiles on their faces and mine as I made my way back to my seat.

Last week at Game On, I was introduced to the company’s three rules of the game. But I realized I had lived them long before I heard them:

Laugh with, not at. No one laughed at my stumble. They didn’t mock me or make me feel small.

Have each other’s back. My team didn’t let me stand alone in that silence. They backed me with every nod and whispered word.

Celebrate small wins. When I finally finished, they celebrated like I had just landed a perfect stick.

Even in just one week at Game On, I’ve seen how these values play out in real time as I've seen Game On in action. I’ve watched soldiers go from stone-faced to laughing out loud during sessions. I’ve seen how Steve Shenbaum and Kyle Stark can engage an audience and get them to truly lean in. And in everyday office conversations, I’ve noticed how much more powerful connection becomes when you lead with joy and empathy.

Over the next three months, I’m ready to embrace my role and to stretch myself in new ways. I will help with creating content, brainstorming with the team, attending live events, and posting weekly Intern Insights across our social media. Stay tuned!

Flip on!

Delaney Dehaan is a rising college junior at George Washington University. She is currently studying
Business Marketing and Law while competing in the all-around position on the women’s Division I gymnastics team. Game On is thrilled to have Delaney as our Summer Intern!