Ever since I was 5 years old I have been playing organized sports. In elementary school I did everything from cheerleading to wrestling. In high school I focused on basketball and track and field. In college I was committed to furthering my skills in track and field. As I grew older, sports evolved me into the person I was suppose to be and ultimately helped me find my calling in life. From youth sports to college sports I have learned a variety of concepts that have impacted my life and helped me get to where I am now.

1. Teamwork

By playing sports I learned how important teamwork is. On the court or field there is a key role for each player, as there is a key role for everyone in life. Teamwork is important because teams can't win by only having one player. There are X number of positions on a field/court so everyone can do their part. This concept can be transferred to the work place. In the work place everyone is given a different title/position because together they get the job done.

2. Commitment

By playing sports I learned how important commitment is. For my teams to be able to improve we all had to be committed to the sport. We all had to come to practice everyday ready to go. We all had to give 110% at every workout and every game. I have learned through life that if you are committed to different tasks, you will get better and have better results.

3. Passion

By playing sports I learned how important it is to be passionate about the things you are doing. Everyone always tells me that I am so passionate; had I never done sports I would not have found that drive. It is important that you are passionate about the things that you are doing in your life because if you aren't then there is absolutely no reason for you to be doing those things! Being passionate makes things so much easier for you. The thing with passion is that you can't make yourself feel something that isn't there. I was never passionate about cheerleading. It wasn't fair for me to stay in a sport when everyone else was passionate about it, therefore I switched to the football team because I loved it.

4. Communication

By playing sports I learned how important communication is. In softball I was the short stop and I always had to be on top of the ball, announcing how many outs there were and keeping everyone calm. In sports if there is no communication, your team will fail. Just like in life, communication is so, so, so important.

These are just four key concepts that I learned by playing sports. By being a passionate, committed, communicative team player I have always been on top of my game whether it be on or off the field. Sports have been one of the most important aspects of my life because they have given me so much.

Sports are so much more than games, they're life lessons.