Dear Team,

Thank you for understanding the concept of, "I can't, I have soccer." Thank you for being my support system both on and off the field. Thank you for helping me to be the best I can be. While having a heavy focus on the sport, thank you for teaching me to utilize the values learned on the field and at practice, from the coach, in life outside of the field. Thank you for making the stays in East Bumbletown, Pennsylvania, in the raunchiest of hotels, memorable and wonderful. You guys taught me the importance of pulling one's own weight and contributing to the greater good. Because of you guys, I learned what it means to stay dedicated to something and to commit myself 100 percent. Together, we made memories to last a lifetime, developed skills, learned values that we'll carry through life to aid in each of our successes and demonstrated what it means to work together, and use the skills of another to succeed.

When we were young, running suicides across a 150-yard field, it never occurred to us that we'd be learning some of the most vital life lessons. Those heavy breaths, taken as a result of the workout we had just completed, were proof of our diligence to our craft, and our desire to succeed. We created a bond to last a lifetime, and one to which not many can relate. We saw each other at our worsts and at our bests. Whether it was scoring a perfect goal, or scoring an “own goal,” we were there for each other. Although we often didn’t thoroughly appreciate it as much as we should have, we helped create wonderful individuals out of each other. Although we have gone on to different endeavors, in different institutions, you have all helped to shape me into the person I have become. For that, I say thank you.

Love,

Daniella