To all of the athletes out there in the world, take the time to thank your coach. I know some days you hate them and you want to quit – I did the same thing – but if it wasn’t for my coaches I have had in my life, I would not be the person I am today.

I am strong, mentally and physically. I am driven. I am a team player. Those are all such important qualities I have gained thanks to my coaches I have had the pleasure of spending, usually more than 15 hours a week, with.

My coaches have pushed and motivated me even when I really didn’t want to. I didn’t want to run that last suicide. I didn’t want to do another defensive drill. I didn’t want to serve and chase my ball anymore. I didn’t want to do any of those things, but you knew I could. You knew I had that little bit of extra left in me.

One of my coaches always said if you can defeat the other team mentally, you have a better chance at defeating them physically. I refused, and still refuse, to be beaten mentally. Everything is a mental game. You taught me if I give up mentally, I will eventually give up physically. As hard as that was, it has made me very successful. I know if I put my mind to something, I can do it even if I really don’t want to do it.

You taught me balance. Having a game more than an hour away, while still having chemistry homework to do that night, was an awful lot to handle. I don’t know how I managed to get it all done, but I did. You always stressed how important grades were. You made sure the team was keeping up with our grades, while also spending our Thursday night competing. You made me a better student because I knew that if I didn’t have the grades, I wouldn’t be able to play under those bright lights with the roar of the crowd.

All throughout the rest of my life, I will have to work with others. That is a skill most people lack. Being with my teammates every day for months on end, I have learned how to work with others. There is not much worse during a game or practice when two players start arguing with each other. It’s all about teamwork. You taught me that.

The lessons I have learned in the seven years with the coaches and teammates I was able to be with with and learn from every day were the best years of my life. I could never thank those people enough but especially my coaches. Thank you for everything. I hope you realize how big of an impact you have had on my life. I am forever grateful for all pf the time, effort and money you put forth to better me as an athlete and as a person.