An open letter to my old team.

I walked onto this campus not knowing what to expect. Sure, I was excited to say I play college field hockey, but I earned it and was proud of it. Little did I know, from the moment I stepped foot on that turf, I had forever friends. This is more than a best friend because how many times has best friends turned into strangers? Too many times. A forever friend is someone that you do not have to see often, but you will always have that bond, something so pure and special, to share. You can relate on levels most people in this world have no idea about. The 5:30 AM workouts the day after Super bowl Sunday, actual turf burns from planks on a boiling field, and the oh so many pasta parties we all dread getting out of bed for, but are always so happy to go to; you have a connection. My team was more than eleven field players and full bench, they were my family. My home away from home. They have watched me grow and push myself in ways I did not know existed. All our hashtags and screenshots will never go forgotten. They have cried with me, and celebrated with me always. Not everyone gets to say that have twenty-five shoulders to cry on… but I do.

In the moment, I never imagined what life would be like not seeing them every day. Safe to say it’s one of the hardest things life has thrown at me. Even though I’m not at practice every day, or singing in the locker room before a game, it doesn’t mean I’m not there for my team. I still refer to them in day-to-day conversation as MY team. My family. I have followed every game, whether it is being streamed live on my work computer, or frantically updating play by plays on the subway. I was blessed with a group of girls who made the greatest impact on my life. I have been able to take things I’ve learned from them and apply it to my career, relationships, and new friendships. Being a part of that team was the greatest part of my college experience. I instantly felt at home with them. Regardless if we were on a bus four hours away, or crammed in a senior’s living room watching a movie, I felt included. This team is like one giant banana split. Each person making up a different topping or scoop. But in the end, all that hard work going into making it, is that much more rewarding when you get to enjoy it. Though years go by, and people leave, and new members join, my team has left one of the largest impacts on my life. You learn how to argue, how to encourage, and how to care for so many different types of people, and at the end of the day you still want them to come over and hangout. Most of us end up living together. We have a connection. We’ve been through a variety of coaches, tons of conditioning, losses, and wins, but in the end we do it all together. I cannot wait to see what these amazing girls do with their life. In the moment, all we talked, dreamed, and played was field hockey. It lives on with me wherever I go. FPUFH has been a roller coaster of emotions, but in the end, I wouldn’t trade any of those girls for a thing. They shaped me whether they knew it or not.

I did not leave because I wanted to. I left because I had to. Life came knocking and it was my time to move on. Moving on does not mean goodbye. I will never have to say goodbye to my field hockey family. They’re my forever friends, and I’m so lucky I met each and every one of them. #fpufh #protectthispizza