My job is to teach children.

As a coach, I work with kids every day to teach them skills and advance them into the next level as they grow. And as much as I love sharing my passion for my sport and watching them grow, I also know that this is more than just the athletic side of coaching. I teach the athlete life lessons, and help them through things in the outside world. After all, it takes a village to raise a child. But, what's blown my mind in the last 4 years of coaching is that I think I've learned more from them than what they've learned from me.

I've learned that I'm beautiful.

I could be in a leggings, XL hoodie, with messy, unwashed hair, but a child will still look up at me with cheer in their eyes and say "you're so pretty." They don't see the imperfections I see. They see my true beauty, and it's nice to be reminded that real beauty is still radiant.

I've learned that fights aren't worth it.

They can argue and make each other cry, but they are so easy to forgive, forget and get over it. After they hug and make up, they're off playing and laughing again. I once asked a seven year old why she let it go so quickly when it mattered so much to her in the first place, and she looked at her friend and replied, "She means more to me than a silly fight." That is the best advice I've ever heard.

I've learned patience.

Kids kill me, let's be honest. Not listening, hitting, saying things they shouldn't to their friends. But over the years, I've learned patients and how to control myself. I've learned to calm myself down so I don't snap, and exactly how to handle them. But, this has carried on into other parts of my life. I mean, if I can handle a five year old having a tantrum, I can take on the world.

I've learned friendship.

"Hey, wanna be friends?" "Okay." And that's it, they're off holding hands and playing like it's nothing. Children make friends within 10 seconds, and I think that's beautiful. Granted, once we become adults, we make friends with the girl we meet in the bathroom or the guy we played pool against at the bar, but we learn that at a young age. We learn that it isn't hard to make friends, it's just hard to keep them.

I've learned I'm a genius.

Sure, they think I'm a genius because I can tie their shoes, know their last name without them having to tell me, and have the answers to their silly questions... but in their eyes, I'm the smartest person I know.

I learned I'm a role model.

When I had a cast on my foot and would hop around the floor without my crutches, the kids would pretend that they couldn't walk either. If I start talking in a funny voice, they do too. If I tell one of them that I like their hair bow, they will start wearing it every day. Their mom will start telling me how much their kid loves me. Their dad will mention how much I come up at home in conversation. Their face will light up when they see me. To that kid, I'm everything. And it pushes me to be the best "me" I can be.

But the biggest lesson I have learned is that I matter.

To these kids, I'm everything. I'm not just their coach, I'm their go-to when they're having a bad day, when something is going on at home. I'm their escape from reality, the light when things are dark, and for the 2 hours that they have practice with me, they're all that matter to me. As adults, we all know that some days are hard. Sometimes we don't feel important or loved, but these kids show us that we are important to them, that they love us. For me, one 6 year old telling me that she loves me is the reason I continue to wake up in the morning. Because if I gave up that day, it would break her little heart. These kids are the light of my life, and the reason I keep going when I think I cant anymore.

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Children say the "darndest things," and sometimes throw tantrums for no reason, but I've learned more lessons from these elementary school children than any college course can ever teach me.