To the boy I coached,

I am a firm believer there are no coincidences in this thing we call life-- there are some people who you are meant to cross paths with. And those people sometimes do more than teach you; they also provide you with some reassurance that you are able to make a difference. You are, and always will be, one of those people.

When I met you, you were a little boy with some big dreams. I remember vividly the competitive spark you had, even at a young age. You always strived to do better, to be better. You would put in the extra lap when no one else did, and most days, I wasn't surprised when you tapped me on the shoulder and asked me what you could do to improve. You were the best kind of kid to coach-- you were engaged, a hard worker, a good sport, and most of all, you respected me and what I had to say. You worked hard, not only for yourself, but for me. To this day, that makes me beam with pride. You respected my opinion and wanted to become a better swimmer to make me proud-- and you did. I'm so glad I made a difference in your life. Through the years, you went from being just a kid that I coached to someone I will always consider a little brother. I have watched you become not only a spectacular athlete, but also a well-rounded, articulate, and genuinely wonderful young man. I truly couldn't be prouder.

That being said, I know that the sport I coached you in is no longer a sport you participate in. And that's okay. One thing that I have always told you is to do what you love, and make sure that you are happy. And soccer makes you happy! Your face lights up when you talk about it, and I want nothing more for you than that. Being good at it is just a plus for you. You work hard because you love the sport, and your passion shines through. Your determination, hard work, and talent has gotten not only my attention, but the attention of your other coaches, teammates, and your wonderful parents. You were asked to play in Spain, and that's absolutely amazing. My heart swells with pride when I realized that I coached you when you were just getting started, when you didn't have as much of an idea of what being an athlete meant and how much work and effort you were going to have to put into it. I always saw greatness in you. I saw a spark in you that I knew was special, and that is why I spent so much time with you. I knew that you were going to contribute so much to this world, not only as an athlete, but as a person. You have a heart of gold, a personality mixed with genuineness and humor, a kindness in your soul that will get you far in life. You stick out to me because of your compassion towards others-- and your stellar attitude-- on and off the field.

You are a true athlete, in every sense of the word. A true athlete is someone who doesn't only play the game, but someone who loves the game and loves what being an athlete stands for. When I started with you, you were just getting your feet wet. Now, although you are still learning, you have developed an array of skills that will only further your athletic career. You want it, which is extremely important. You also go and get it, which is just as important. You give it your all, you don't let others phase you-- you have shown incredible character, a love for the game, and a love for the world around you. You have grown up to be such an incredible young man, and when I think back on the 8 year old you that I used to know, I can't help but think that I was absolutely right about how you would turn out. As much as I may have made a difference in your life, you have also made an extremely significant difference in mine.

I cannot wait to continue to watch you grow up and become the person I have always known that you can be. I will be there to cheer you on every step of the way. I hope you know how far you have come-- you went from a little boy with big dreams to a young man who is chasing those dreams. You should be proud of yourself, I sure am proud of you.

With all my love and support always,

Your coach and "big sister"