It’s been decided that I am at this weird time of my life where I am reflecting on all of my past experiences, and finding a new appreciation in the people who have gotten me to the places I am today. This is due to some recent experiences, and I think it is important that we realize that opportunities are given to us because of people who believe in us, and that will ultimately shape our future.

There are endless qualities required in order to be a role model, and I have found these in a select number of people. One is my parents of course, because they are endless supporters and have given me the strength and ability to thrive and survive in the real world. Eighteen years of their lives were dedicated to preparing me for the ups and downs of life, and I cannot thank them enough. My first year of college was rough at times and I don’t know if I could have survived some days without them. Whether it was a three hour phone call, an inspirational text or a letter that I once wrote with words of inspiration sent at the precise time of needed encouragement. They are forever the people I strive to be in my life, and will always have a place of gratitude and love in my heart.

I have found that among my other role models, coaches hold a special place in my life. Recent events have led to a dispute among character and abilities in one of my coaches at our high school, and it caused initial upset and disbelief. But in the moments of a very detailed email, it dawned on me just how important this person was in many years of my life, and how they can be taken for granted while you are experiencing them. This coach was more than just a coach, she was a mentor. She showed a love for the game that I had never seen before, and a desire to teach that love to those that surround her. An endless amount of opportunity was provided from her, to anyone that wanted to take it, and there was a belief built in with everything that you were taught.

It was moments like such that I didn’t realize or embrace that I was being taught and experiencing things that were going to shape me for the rest of my life. Along with my parents, they were a role model that established the beginnings of everything I believe in, and the way that I will choose to live every day. The underlying meaning to all of this is that we must step back sometimes and reflect upon the people and places that we have been, in order to appreciate where we are at today. We must cherish the moments we have and the adventures that continue because there are hardworking people in this world that do everything that can to provide the best for you, and it is your job to the same for those that come next.