Growing up playing different sports, I've had several different coaches. Some were great, and some not so much. A handful of my coaches had often discouraged me and made me feel as if I was either not important to the team or they made me question my talent. Until my freshman year of high school, I had never made a true connection with any of the coaches I'd had.

Coach McKinnon, this one is for you.

Scrawny. Short. Weak. I was a typical freshman girl. I had ZERO muscle on me and was just about five feet tall. However, from the moment I came to swim team sign-ups, you didn't seem discouraged. Even after our first pool practice, you weren't discouraged by the guppies who had horrendous technique and even worse breathing habits. Even after our first dry land practice when I could barely do a push-up, wall sit, or run a mile, you didn't give up. You pushed us even harder. For that, I thank you. I felt faith.

Freshman year, I was fairly new to the whole world of competitive swimming. You made me love it instantly. I loved being around a team that cared about others' performance. You ensured that everyone felt welcomed. For that, I thank you. I felt like I was home.

As you probably recall, I gave up on myself often. I thought I couldn't achieve a lot. Planks hurt, so I would quit without pushing through to the finish. Short breaks during sets hurt my lungs because I was finally getting in shape, but I would stall to stay on the wall a little longer. I never pushed myself personally but you always did. You started by putting me in the 200 M race at my first meet. Of course, I came in last, but that didn't stop you from putting me in that race again the following meet. For that, I thank you. I felt courage.

Your rule was that every swimmer must swim the dreaded 500 freestyle race before graduating. Since you made me feel confident, I wanted to take it on my sophomore year. You gave me the courage to jump into something that I wasn't fully sure I could accomplish. "Sing a song in your head, it'll make it go by faster. You can do it." I did. From then on, I swam the 500 freestyle in almost every meet for the rest of my swimming career. For that, I thank you. I felt pride.

Even though I have graduated, I can still come back to you with gossip, problems, or just to chat. No matter what, I feel welcomed. I have always felt welcomed and cared about. When it was the off-season, you encouraged me to join fall swim teams to improve for the winter. When we were walking around the halls, we would always catch up on everything. McKinnon, you had always checked up on my grades and my well-being. For that, I thank you. I felt love.

I think it's also a little ironic that I heard the same thing almost twice a week for four years. "Is your coach your mom? You two look alike." or "Dude, you look like McKinnon. Like, a lot like her." Which, hey, it's a compliment. We're two good-looking people.

It's crazy how this random teacher with eyes like a hawk (that always caught me on my phone during lunch) turned into one of the biggest role models of my life. You changed me immensely as an athlete, as a student, and overall as a person. I could never put into words how thankful I am to have experienced the four amazing seasons you gave me. Even today, during softball conditioning and hard practices, your voice plays in my mind saying, "You have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable." Your humor, heart of gold, and your persistence mean everything and more to me. For everything, I thank you.

From,

Your favorite 500 freestyle swimmer with lots of love