Freshman year was one of the hardest and most mentally challenging years of my life. I have been through happy, sad, and even sometime depressing moments as the year went on. Being on a sport not only added pressure, but also made my time seem to disappear. No matter what, there was one constant thing that kept me going: My Team.
Walking into the first team meeting I had no idea that these girls were going to change my life in only a few months. I was scared and nervous of what they would think of me or if I was good enough to even be here. I decided to put on a confident demeanor in hopes that they wouldn’t see just how much I wanted to be accepted and wanted on this team. I wasn’t alone however, as the other freshman were just as nervous as I was. But at least I had people who felt the way I did and I knew that no matter what we would stick together. Our coach started off the meeting with emphasizing that this was no longer a room full of girls, but a family that will grow stronger as we got to know each other. By the end of the year this would hold truer than I ever thought.
As the fall semester went on, things got more real that I was an actual college athlete. No more dreaming in high school that a college would look at me and see just how much I loved playing my sport. I had to actually show my coach and the team why I was here and prove that the spot I had was one I deserved. Practices were not easy, I had to make sure my grades were really good, and also stay on top of my workouts and social life. But as practices got harder, I got more encouragement and cheering on to finish that last sprint. Whenever I struggled with academics, the older girls would volunteer to help me out or revise my essay. I was never alone when I wanted to do a workout, even if I kind of wanted to be. And no matter what we always stuck together when we went out, always looking after each other and making sure we all made it home.
The season began and things got more emotional and serious. As a freshman, I had no idea about the rivalries the team had or what happened in past games. I had no clue as to the past heartbreaks and the revenges that we set as goals of this year. I soon learned that these times would be the best and most memorable. As our coach gave us the scouting reports in preparing us for our games, she discussed past games and how the loss of last year would be avenged this year. Although I did not play last year on this team, I wanted to give everything for the girls who did and went through the heartbreak.
It was not so much one girl’s game to shine, but rather the team working as a unit to play in our system. These Game Days would be some of the best, as we got pumped up in the locker room and jammed out to our songs. Looking good in our uniforms and matching warm ups, we felt like nobody could touch us. Win or Lose we would fight until the last minute and always remember to have each other’s backs.
Although most of the time it was awesome, there were some parts that weren’t that great. Drama, competition for positions, and talking behind each other’s backs were bound to happen in a group of 20 something girls. Even though we might not admit it, cliques of groups of girls were formed due to shared interest and just having a better connection than with others. Some may see this as a bad thing, but we were all each other’s best friends and biggest supporters. These things I believed truly made me stronger and tougher. This was the real world and I had to accept that everything I have perceived in my head was not always the case in real life. After getting through all the hardships, I believe we came out stronger and the love for each other was ever lasting.
If there is anything I can take away from this past year from this team, is that they have made me a stronger and more loving person. No longer will I ever think I am alone in life, as they are always there to pick me up when I’m down. These girls are not just my team, but my family who through anything can come out on top. Trust and Loyalty are not just words, but more sayings that throughout my years will become so important. I owe these girls everything into helping me survive my first year of college sports and school.
To the seniors, although it was only one year being with you, you have impacted my life more than you know. You have shown me what class and true hard work are. You have shown me what after four years of school, sports, and determination can be and how much I want to be that when my time comes. To the rest of the team, I can’t wait to make more memories and build up our family even more. We now have unfinished business of our own that we must show to the next freshman class.
