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Being A D3 Athlete

"I wouldn't change my life for anything."

Mady Ellinger

Feb 27, 2017

Calvin College

Mady Ellinger

This past weekend my teammates and I started our softball season in the U.P. This weekend showed me that I not only play a sport that I love, but out of it I gained 18 new family members.

We spent 16 hours on a bus together, we ate 8 meals together and we played 4 games together. So as you see we spent pretty much every second of everyday together. And guess what? I didn't get sick of any of them. I wish I could describe in gracefully written words about how amazing being a student athlete is at a D3 school, but in all honesty I'm pretty sure this article would turn into a novel.

When you are a D3 athlete, you not only have your parents and teammates cheering you on; you have every other sport cheering you on also. At my school each team is given a brother or sister team. This means those teams turn into the BIGGEST supporters for that team. This year we were given basketball. We went to as many games as we could and during this past weekend while they were in the MIAA Championship tournament we streamed every game cheering them on while we were in a dome in the middle of nowhere. (They won the tournament because they are the best.) While we were playing our games, the baseball team were watching our games online. You don't just play for you and your team as a D3 athlete, you play for every other team and your school because they are also playing for you and your school.

Coming into college I didn't know what to expect as a student athlete. But it turns out all the stress and lack of time you have sometimes is so worth it because you and a crap ton of other athletes are right there beside you doing the same thing as you. You are apart of this amazing community of people who love what they do just as much as you and are always winning to help in anyway possible.

Sometimes some people think you might sick of being around the same 18 people everyday for multiple hours but in all honesty, all it does is bring people closer. And I love it.

I wouldn't change my life for anything. Because if I didn't play a sport I wouldn't be able to eat as much as I do. And that really bumbs me out.

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Being A D3 Athlete

"I wouldn't change my life for anything."

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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