To the high school seniors in their final official sports season ever, savor it. Take in every single second of it. That is the best advice I can give you. It won’t hit you for a while.
I remember standing there on senior night, waiting for the ceremony to end. All that was on my mind by this time senior year was how many more days there were until graduation. I couldn't WAIT to get out of that school and go on to college.
High school was not my favorite time ever. I never really fit in at my school and only had a few friends. But the one thing I loved was my spring sport: track. I found my people there. I found my mentor there.
I wish someone would have told me just how special those last moments of your senior year are. You will never have another senior night. You will never have another official season, period, let alone one so fully dedicated to you.
You don’t really understand at the time what it means to never officially play a sport again. When sports, or a certain sport, have been your life for as long as you can imagine, you can’t know what life is like without them until you are truly without them.
Your last trip to the playoffs/postseason is something you will never forget. It doesn’t matter how far you go, honestly, you will create your best memories here. However, if you are skilled and blessed enough to go far in the season, then it becomes a whole new kind of fun.
I choked in my first round of postseason, so I did not get to go far. But the experience of postseason as a senior is unmatchable. I have never received such unparalleled support.
As I sit here a year later, I can’t help but miss that little slice of high school. No matter how you feel about high school, your favorite sport will always be a good memory. I can’t help but miss all my friends on my team that supported me, my little track squad. I can’t help but miss the only mentor I have ever had.
No matter how you feel about high school in general, your last senior sport is special. You can’t even begin to imagine how much you will miss it.
My advice is to revel in every moment and opportunity while you can. Show up to practice early. Get that extra run or lift in.
Go the extra mile in practice, whether it be metaphorical or literal.
Stay after practice or games to just spend time together. You won’t ever have that opportunity again.
Thank your coach or coaches. You won’t realize how much they have impacted you until you don’t see them daily. You also don’t realize how much they do for you and your teammates until you go back and help your coach.
No matter how ready you are for high school to be over, you’ll never forget your final season of sports of your senior year. I promise that you will never regret the nights that you stayed after practice or games to hang out with your teammates. I promise that you will never regret the extra hours and effort you put in.
Take it from someone who can’t anymore, give it all your best while you can.