Dear track and field,

This past week has been full of crazy Ohio weather, and I couldn’t help but realize my favorite time of year in high school is upon us once again. I never thought I would miss being outside in spandex and a jersey in snow, but as the latest one-hour blizzard hit us, I found myself missing the familiar physical numbness of track meets.

I saw my former teammates that are still in high school posting their pictures from the spring sports photo day, and my heart ached. I love college more than I could have ever loved high school, but there’s something painful about no longer being an athlete.

I knew that I did not have time to live the life I wanted to live in college while also doing track, so I ultimately decided to not even go through the recruiting process. However, this special time of year makes me regret that at times.

Track was my favorite memory from high school. I love my coach and teammates more than anything. I have never had as much fun as I did with my little ‘track squad,’ as the four of us dubbed ourselves. We had countless adventures, trials, and victories together. I have never been surrounded by such a supportive group of people.

I created some of the funniest, most striking memories I will ever have throughout my seven years of track and field. However, the best ones came from my four years in high school.

Track, thank you for bringing me to some of my lifelong friends and role models.

My favorite thing about you is that you brought together such a diverse group of people. My friends and I spanned throughout three different grades, and now four different majors in college. We all attend (or will attend) starkly different colleges--some Division 1 and nationally known, some smaller Division 2 and 3 that you have probably never heard of.

Thank you so much for teaching me that the sky's the limit. I was surrounded by unparalleled work ethic and success, and it was utterly inspiring. You taught me to persevere when it seemed as though all hope had been lost. For the first time, I understood how failure could eventually create successes.

Track was the most challenging thing I have ever done because it pushed me to my limits mentally, physically, and even emotionally sometimes. There were days when I couldn’t grasp the new techniques no matter how many footwork progressions I did. Even worse, there were meets that I would underperform by tens of feet and not even place when I was the one seed. But that taught me the rawest form of dedication I have ever learned.

You taught me the true meaning of the grind through your constantly changing track and field conditions, the large variance of competition and weather, and most importantly through the people around me. You blessed me with some of the most committed people I had ever met, both to our sport and to each other.