For those of you who have ever played sports, been on a team, or been in any sort of club, chances are you’ve had at least one great coach. This person is different than a teacher or an authority figure. They’re like our personal mentors, who stuck with us through the ups and downs, and will stay with us forever.

I found this coach in high school, when I joined the track team (and later the cross country team.) Coach, I miss you every day, and I wish you could read this letter; I want you to know that you changed my life.

When I first joined the team, in the beginning I dreaded practice every day. Sitting in math class knowing I would have to suffer through practice after school was less than pleasant. But I soon realized it was something I couldn’t live without. Thank you for making it the one thing I ended up loving, and something I still miss.

Thank you for providing me with an outlet. Sports truly are therapeutic, and for me, running began to become habitual. If I didn’t run at least three miles every day, something felt wrong. It was a time when I could forget about school, work, and all of the other problems life seems to throw our way. I was in the best shape of my life, and I could eat pizza after pizza with no repercussions (a special thanks for that one).

Thank you for introducing me to some of my best friends. The bond we formed on that team was unreal. Spending so much time together, it was inevitable... but I do like to think we were the closest team in the school (after all, everybody called us a cult). From 8 am practices every Saturday, to spaghetti dinners together, to TP-ing each other’s houses, it’s safe to say we grew to know each other well. They were my second family.

Thank you for teaching me what it means to never give up. There were countless days when I felt like I: just. couldn’t. do. it. With no motivation or faith in myself, it would have been easy to fail. But you never gave up on me, or anybody else on the team. You always taught us to see the best in ourselves, and that is something I carry with me today.

Thank you for picking me up when I fell down. Every race can’t be a personal record, just like every game can’t result in a win. I don’t think I’m speaking just for myself when I say that a lot of the time, failure really sucks. There were days when I stumbled across the finish line, with the 1 percent of energy remaining in my body, and still didn’t get the results I wanted. But you were never disappointed because I always gave it my best. You taught me that winning isn’t everything (as cliche as that sounds, it’s true.)

Thank you for making me smile. Sports take a lot out of a person. Often times, our eyes are so focused on the prize, we forget to enjoy the journey. But you always pulled me back into reality and reminded me to slow down, and have some fun. Whether it was giving us endless amounts of snacks, telling stories and jokes, or just giving me a hug when you could see I needed it, you always lifted my spirits.

Thank you for being you. Coach, nobody will know how much you truly meant to me unless they were lucky enough to know you as well. But I hope everybody has a similar figure: someone who you will never forget, someone who did so much for you, someone who taught you not just about sports, but about life. You shaped me into the person I am today. You provided me with endless laughs, hugs, memories, victories, and life lessons. You were undeniably unique and I know that your memory will stay with me forever. Thank you, Coach. I'll "see you around campus."