I've spent the vast majority of my life as an athlete--from 2nd grade little league games, to the first game of my collegiate career, to the summer league and club teams I play on now, I've always been a part of a team. Some of these teams have had more influence than others, undoubtedly, but what they all have in common is that they've all given me wonderful teammates, that have doubled as amazing, supportive friends.
I wanted to write this letter because we often forget how significant our teammates are to us, and there are a lot of things that we need to thank one another for.
Thank you for pushing me to be my best self.
We all know that whether we're at dance practice or duking it out on the court, our teammates, who we compete with every day at practice, are our constant competition. They push us to want to be better. The healthy competition that takes place in a practice environment pushes the athlete to become the best version of their self--so thanks for elbowing me a little harder at practice, running a little faster while we're doing sprints--these are all things that have made me want to be a better athlete.
Thank you for supporting me when I make a mistake.
We've also all had our not-so-shining moments, those bad practices where coach gets in our face, those bad games where we end up benched because our head just isn't in the game--so thanks for giving me a pat on the back when I've needed it. Thank you for the encouraging words that have helped me to keep going. Thanks for picking me up when I fall.
...but also, thanks for calling me out when I need to be better.
While it's never something you want to hear, there are days where our performance is just lacking. So thanks for being honest with me, and letting me be honest with you. Thanks for telling me how to fix my shot, and thanks for letting me tell you that your passing needs a little work, without getting all pissed off. Thanks for being the peer-critic that I need.
Most of all, thanks for being the family that I've inherited.
Through it all, sometimes we forget that we don't really get to choose our teammates. When I tried out for my first club team way back when (geez, I can't believe it was already ten years ago!), I was blessed to be surrounded by a few girls that I would travel all through my middle and high school careers with, all the way to the college recruitment process. Thank you for supporting me and thank you for becoming my best friends, on and off the court. Thank you for team sleepovers, away tournaments where we shared hotel rooms, and of course, all of the shenanigans we've gotten into. Thanks for the wins, the losses, the championships, and the pasta dinners. Sometimes, I forget that it was just my luck that I made the team, and that I was fortunate enough to earn a spot alongside the awesome, talented ladies that helped me grow into the player and the person that I am today. Stay awesome, my friends, and thanks for everything.
