The past 15 years of my life were spent in the bubble of my small, Northeastern Pennsylvania private school. I had known most of my classmates since our days of frolicking on the playground, and had continued attending school with them up until I graduated last year. These were some of the best years of my life; I was given the opportunity to grow and mature into the person I am today next to some of my closest childhood friends, and I would never take that back. I was able to go into high school with a solid group of friends, and that provided me with a safety net that would help me thrive those next four years.
While I couldn’t be more grateful for my high school experience, starting a whole new journey without my best friends by my side seemed like it would be impossible. How would I survive without seeing some of my closest friends at lacrosse practice everyday? Who would I have lunch dates and movie nights with? The start of my college career was new and exciting, but it was also one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. It meant new beginnings, but it also meant difficult goodbyes to people that mean the world to me.
When I became more settled at school, I wondered how I would ever be able to make friends that could compare to the ones at home. My questions were answered when I listened to one of the most common pieces of advice given to college freshman: get involved. I took a risk, tried something new, and joined the rowing team. Little did I know that writing my name down on that sign up sheet would be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only is rowing an incredibly rewarding sport that challenges me in new ways every day, but it also gave me an unbelievably amazing group of friends.
So as the holidays near, here are a few reasons why I couldn’t be more grateful for my teammates (lets be real, I’m grateful for you guys all year round).
1. They're my support system
No matter what, inside and outside of the erg room, I know these girls will always have my back. They’ll be there cheering me on when I’m struggling to finish yet another leg numbing workout, and they’ll be right by my side when I’m out of breath afterwards. I know I can count on them to be there with any sort of advice or comfort when I’m struggling with my own personal problems. They’re the type of people that leave a plate of pumpkin spice cookies on your desk after a bad day.
2. They always give me something to smile about
Rowing is a tough sport that has challenged me both physically and mentally; it has pushed me in ways that I’ve never been pushed. While serious when need be, my teammates also provide me with comic relief that gets me through those hard practice days. Whether it’s locker room antics, inside jokes, or hilarious group me conversations, I know these people will always find a way to make me laugh.
3. Dinner dates
Another amazing perk to being on a sports team is that you never have to worry about eating alone. I go to a small school, so I’m almost bound to run into a teammate on my way to a meal. At this point in the year, grabbing dinner together after practice is just another part of our routine. Our table is always filled with people, chatter, and TONS of plates of food; I swear it’s Thanksgiving dinner every time I sit down to eat with them. One of my favorite parts of the day is gathering around a table with the team, enjoying food that we all wish was home cooked, and talking about our days.
4. There's always someone to hangout with
Sports are such a blessing, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their presence in my life; however, they’re a commitment, and with commitments come sacrifices. I’ve traded going out on Friday nights for practicing early on Saturday mornings. While I love rowing, it could be hard watching your friends have fun without you. Luckily for me, I have teammates living right down the hall that are always available to hangout. We all have to get up crazy early, and we all have to make sacrifices. When I wake up to the blaring of my alarm at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday, I realize that the early mornings are worth it if I get to be with my teammates.
5. They push me to be better
These girls are always inspiring me to be the best I could be both in the world of rowing and in the classroom. When I’m struggling through the last meters of an erg piece, they’re yelling at me to push through the pain in my legs, and to get my numbers even lower. While erging creates a somewhat competitive atmosphere, my teammates are always encouraging me to go as fast as I can. They’re always there to keep me in line; if I’m not in study hall by a certain time, I’m bound to receive an assertive text message from one of them. They’re more than just my teammates, they’re also like my parents.
6. We suffer together
Rowing requires endurance, power, and technique; sometimes, it could be a pretty exhausting sport. There have been times where we’ve all struggled, but I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to go through it with. From early morning lifts to draining sprint pieces, we endure it together, and I know we have each other’s backs.
7. We thrive together
So far, one of my favorite parts of college has been getting my first win with these girls. There is no better feeling than being the first to cross that finish line, and then putting those medals around your neck. That moment was incredibly special for each and every one of us because all the hard work finally paid off. The early mornings, the cold days on the water, the numb legs after killer erg workouts: that was all worth it. As crazy as it sounds, I can’t wait for more exhausting workouts with these people because it means we’re improving. Everyday we’re getting better and faster, and that’s going to show come spring season. This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to rack up more wins and memories with these girls. I couldn't thank you guys enough for always being there, and for making my first semester at college the best it could be.
