So here's the thing: college life is hard as it is, but you have taken on another challenge. You will be part of a team very soon and that is a whole other transition on top of it. You have no more inside jokes, a new coach to get used to, and you need to make a good first impression on the upperclassmen. You are trying to create a bond in just a few weeks, that you and your old team created in YEARS. But if you have an awesome team like I did, it won't be that hard.

First off, you are starting a whole new chapter, and I know that's a cliché but it's the truth. If you will be moving away, not only will you be adjusting to new college life and learning to live with a whole new person, but you will also be adjusting to a new group of teammates.

Let me break this down for you.

College life on its own is hard. Being an athlete on top of it takes serious dedication. I'm not saying you can't do it, because you can. Every single one of you that is planning to take part in collegiate athletics can handle all of it, but you have to make a conscious effort. It takes mental toughness. I'm not going to sugar coat it. In the off season it might seem easy. (Maybe not if you play D1) but otherwise it's just workouts and meetings. But really, it's the off time where you should be working extra hard to advance your skills, not sitting back while the other players work and get better. Do it for your teammates. There is no "l", cause now it's "WE".

I can't stress time management enough. In the off season I had everything mapped out. Got up, ate, finished any work I needed to do, went to class, went to practice (when practices stopped I replaced this with working out), then studied and still had extra time to create friendships and build a strong bond with my roommates. Once a week I had to spend an hour and a half in the library for study hall. But other sports needed SIX hours.. So just think about that. I learned to love the library very quickly.

But when the second semester rolled around my time management went out the window with all that "extra time" I had...

I had to get up at 4:30 two times a week for 5 am workouts, which lasted an hour and 15 minutes (but trust me, you learn to love it if you love your sport). The other days I had to get up at 7:30 (more like 7:50) for class at 8. After class I headed right for lunch and then straight to practice. And when games started, sometimes I'd even have to skip a class or two to make it. When practice/ games ended we headed straight for the cafe to quick grab something to eat. On Tuesdays/Thursday's we had mandatory team study halls you could choose from. Sometimes we'd end up having to bring our dinner into the library with us (Which wasn't so bad).

But by that time it was almost 10... Where were your roommates? What did they do today? Did he/she pass that test they were worried about? Did he/she end up getting the internship they were so excited for? Who knows? NOT YOU. And sometimes it can cause problems because you're never around. Your laundry needs to be done. You finally did it? Good, now find the time to put it all away. No more dishes to use? Just use a paper towel, no biggie right? Wrong. Cause sooner or later those dishes are going to be NAS-TY. The trash is overflowing, so you better take it out, don't forget about that test you have in two days, I mean c'mon you haven't even started studying yet! And then everything piles up (kinda like those dishes).

And you start to feel like crap. You miss your roommate(s). You don't feel as close to them. You try to make plans but something always comes up, and it's mostly your fault. You "overbook" your weekends, making plans that you don't remember. You try to spend time with all your friends but it just gets so exhausting trying to fit it all in. Plus you HAVE to finish that paper before Monday morning. And you get overwhelmed. Finals week is complete hell, and even worse if you play a spring sport (Because playoffs).And it's in that moment that you use that metal toughness to take a deep breath and create a to-do list and you follow it. Relax. It's okay to take some time to yourself, trust me it's vital to keep from going insane. Whether that means going out for a run, going shopping, or just sitting back and watching tv. But mostly, all you can hope for is that you got great roommates like I did, that even when we fought and argued we still always worked things out, no matter how long it took. And we are stronger for that.

Plus, you get to represent your school! You get to put on that uniform and do what you love for the place that you (hopefully) love! Something you worked hard for, and it's finally time to let that hard work show on the field, court, or track. You get to take your love of the game to a higher level. Hopefully you were blessed with a great coach like I had, who not only motivates and teaches you, but is also looking out for you, in all aspects of college life. And I'm not sure why this is, but it's such a satisfying feeling.. Knowing that you are contributing to a bigger goal. You could be doing great things, and all it feels like is having fun, and being stressed, but mostly having fun( and being stressed, but the stress is very manageable). And you have to let that thought motivate you in the offseason (and during summer training).

But the one part that all of the above is so unbelievably worth the hustle for: Your teammates become your family (another antiquated cliché but yet again: truth) and the sport consumes your life. You pick each other up when you are down, because we all know what we're going through. You start to make those teammate inside jokes and form those special bonds. You better each other. You make the strongest friendships. And you find your place. You may feel like an alien at first. You may think "I'm never going to fit in here! I don't know if I can do this." All I can say is there's something about sharing sweat and tears and blood with your teammates at 5 o'clock every Tuesday and Friday morning that bands teams together. But you know, the friendships and memories awaiting you are more than worth the wait.

P.S. I didn't write this to discourage you. I wrote this because I don't want you to go in blind and feel like you are drowning. i wanted you to know that other people go through that and it is totally okay.