While playing three sports for most of my life, I realized how I learned the morals to life just through sports. To all of my coaches throughout my life, I say thank you. Whether you are a parent, friend, or hired coach, you were all my role models from when I was first able to hold a ball. You taught me the mechanics of the game in each of the seasons for all the sports, whether it was softball, soccer, or basketball. You even helped me learn the basis of various sports which I did not play on an actual team for.

You instructed me to work with my team to achieve an alike goal, which was to win the game. I was told to have fun along the way, but to play hard and never give up. I fought through blood, sweat, dehydration, physical injuries, and tears. You comforted each player when they were injured, no matter how valuable they were to the team. I learned that whether someone is the star player or the player positioned at left bench, everyone was part of a "team." To the coach who once told me that the three keys to success in sports were hard work, dedication, and perseverance, I will always remember that you were the one who showed me these three ropes that I needed to climb. I went to practice, games, or tournaments for most days of the week for many years, and I brought these tips along the way. You pushed me to work my butt off until I was drenched in sweat during tournaments in mid-August. You gave me the motivation to get through games that we were being blown out in. Most importantly, you helped me grow into who I am today.

Thanks to your coaching skills, whether successful or not, I have learned from your mistakes and will pass on my coaching skills and knowledge to my own children one day, or to children who play sports. There were times that the entire team hated you for making us do suicides during practice. There were other times where we insulted and indirectly questioned your coaching methods. On the other hand, there were times that the team loved you for taking us out to Pizza Hut after playoff game win. Some games you predicted us to have the upper hand in the game, but we lost by more than anyone had ever anticipated. You still gave us the brownies that you brought for the presumed win. To all of the coaches who "sucked," thank you for teaching me how to not be a role model. To all the coaches who "rocked," I am thrilled for you to have taken me under your left wing and drill me like there was no tomorrow. Now because of all my past athletic experiences with coaches, I have become a coach to younger generations and hope to spread on the skills that you have blessed me with.