I have started and restarted this letter at least one hundred times. I would finish a paragraph and then delete all of it because it wasn't worded just right. Almost three years ago I joined a rowing team that would bring some of the highest highs and occasionally some pretty intense lows. From bringing home a gold medal my very first race to finishing dead last the final race of my high school career it was quite the whirlwind. As bad as it was I would give anything to go back and re-live that last race.
As wonderful as all of the people on my team were, this letter is to my coaches. From the very first practice to the very last practice you have taught me more than you probably realize. Somehow no matter how stressful the beginning of my day had been or how much homework I had to go home to, being on the water became my place. A place where I didn't have to worry about anything else going on. I could just focus on rowing and nothing else. I could, as we were told time and time again, just leave it on the water.
Every single testing day, you were standing behind us making sure that we didn't give up until it was over. Every race day you were the last one we talked to before we launched and one of the first people we saw coming back in. Regardless of how the race went, you were always the first person we would talk to about it. If it went well, you would share in the excitement. If it didn't go so hot then you somehow always knew what to say to keep us looking forward.
The lineups weren't always exactly what we envisioned, but you taught us to make the best of every situation. Why sulk about something that you can't change? Put that energy into something you can do. What you can do is work harder and prove that you should earn a spot in that lineup. That mentality is something that has certainly carried over to other aspects of my life.
SEE ALSO: The Coach That Brought Me Back
Most importantly you taught me how to believe in myself. I am capable of doing whatever I set my mind to. You taught me that no matter how frustrated or how discouraged or done I was that there is always a brighter side. You taught me perseverance in the hard times. No matter what is going on it will get better.
Regardless of if it was intentional, rowing, my teammates and you have taught me this, and for that, I am forever grateful.
Thank you for encouraging me to continue my rowing career when I didn't want to admit that I wasn't ready to give it up quite yet.
Thank you for making joining rowing one of the best decisions that I have ever made.
Thank you for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself.