I have been in athletics since I was old enough to walk and needless to say my life wouldn't be the way it is without them. In general, sports teach you so many life lessons like accountability, responsibility, working with others, time management, and much more. But what they don't tell you is how hard it will be on your body both mentally and physically and how much you will miss it when your done.

Lately I have wondered why I allowed myself to do so many sports at one time at such a young age as my body starts to become more painful as I grow older. Luckily all that goes wrong is able to rehabilitate and work with. However, one of the biggest cons to being an athlete is the mental stress it can take on you when you're committed. With sports being such a huge contribution to my life in particular, when you get injured or taken out of the game it can create turmoil in ones emotional state but with a different look on that, it also makes an athlete stronger as an individual. Thus playing into the best and worst thing a person can do.

The emotional side of athletics is one thing that makes it so great and one thing that makes it so frustrating. When you're so passionate about something and spend so much time doing it, it can be difficult to give it up later in life for your career. I often wonder what I will do when I am done competing at a collegiate level and its saddening. However, I know that with my choice of career and passion for coaching, athletics will never not have a huge role in my life.

With every race, throw, hit, flip, kick, and dive the things I have learned and the experiences I have been put through mentally have made me stronger. I find myself constantly frustrated playing sports but I also find so much happiness out of it I wouldn't trade any moment for not having the opportunity to participate.