This is a letter to all college athletes, whether you play football, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, or something else. For the purposes of this letter, it doesn't really matter what sport you play. What matters is that you have the desire to win, to be the best, and to work hard at something you love.
With that said, it's time for your season to begin. Time for you to start grueling three-a-day practices and workouts. Time for early mornings and long days. Time for you to put in the work to become the best athlete you can be.
I know sometimes it's going to be hard, and you're going to want to quit. You'll have days where you just can't get that play down, where you miss an open shot, where your coach just doesn't seem to get off your case. You'll fall down and get injured, and it'll seem almost impossible to get back up. You'll have late nights on the bus coming back from games, cramming for that test you have tomorrow and finishing that paper you need to do well on to bring up your grade in your worst class. You'll have hard losses, games you know you should have won, or could have won if you just did one thing differently. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Being a student-athlete is hard.
But don't forget that there will be the moments when you realize all the hard work is worth it. You will have those moments that make early mornings and extra gym time seem like nothing. You'll send a perfect pass that you've been working so hard to nail, or you'll score the winning goal, and your coach will tell you how proud they are of you. You'll get up each time you get knocked down, stronger than before. You'll win games against opponents you didn't think you could beat. You will ace that test you crammed for on the bus the night before. Believe in yourself. You will succeed.
Remember to trust your teammates and coaches. They want you to be better. They want you to succeed on the court and in the classroom. Push your teammates and push yourself to run faster and jump higher. Believe in each other and work together. Support each other on and off the field. Pull your teammates up when they fall. Be the best you can be for your team.
So, remember to believe in yourself and trust your teammates and coaches. It's going to be hard, but it's going to be worth it. Appreciate all the things it takes to be a student-athlete, because one day you will have graduated, and you will want to be back with your team one more time. Work hard and give 110 percent. After all, you are doing something you love.
