To the girl who wears my high school jersey,
I hope you love it as much as I did. It's more than the number on the front, it's about the team name on the back. It's about living up to all of the great people who came before you and leaving a mark for those who come after you. I hope you're enjoying your time at our Alma Mater because I would do anything to go back to those days.
Wearing that jersey isn't a simple task. I hope you're leaving as much blood, sweat, and tears on the court as I did because the hard work you're putting in now will pay off in the long run.
Whether you decide to play our sport in college or not, the dedication, determination, and drive it is teaching you will build character and make you stronger for whatever you will face in the years to come. These are some of the best years of your life, and whether you realize it now or not, wearing that jersey is teaching you a lot.
When I went to high school, I knew that I wanted to be the number 7, but I waited a year for the jersey to be passed down to me. I worked hard on and off the court, and I hope you do too. You're lucky to be a part of something larger than yourself.
You're lucky to be wearing a jersey that so many others would do anything to have as their own. It's not the number that makes it special, it's the fact that the number is just a small part of the larger sum. Your number is preceded by many, and followed by more. You are one link in the chain, and if you're anything like me, you're one of the strongest.
When I was in your shoes I tore all of the ligaments in my ankle. I really never imagined being able to step on the court again. Life is funny like that sometimes, it pushes you down just to teach you to get back up again. I hope that if you ever experience an injury or something that makes you question whether you can succeed that you look at the bigger picture.
Everything happens for a reason. It may seem cheesy to you now... but just hear me out. Sure, I missed out on a season of club volleyball, but I came back that next Fall to our team, and I worked harder than ever before because I had something to prove to myself. I wasn't going to give up in the face of adversity. I really hope that you can find that same strength inside of yourself someday too.
I hope you take advantage of all of the things you can learn from the people who surround you, I'm not just talking about skills for the sport. Learn about life, about your teammates' backgrounds and families, what they like to do in their free time, and anything else that you can think of.
I regret not getting to know everyone on the team better. I'm not sure how I practiced for two hours every day without knowing more about my teammates, and I regret those missed opportunities to make more connections in my high school years.
That jersey on your back, or in your locker, has given you unbelievable opportunities, and I hope that you take advantage of them. I wish you the best of luck in all that you do, and if you can learn one thing from this letter I hope it's this:
Wear your jersey with pride, work hard for what you want, never take your friends for granted, and enjoy every second you get on the court.