I’ve grown up playing sports. Just as every kid, I played "bumble bee" soccer. I played basketball, partook in swimming, and I was even a cheerleader. But nothing stuck. Most would even call me uncoordinated. But then I found lacrosse. I’ve played lacrosse since the fourth grade. In all honesty it’s the first thing I’ve ever been really good at.

This is my sport. I played through the "everyone is a winner" stage. I played through high school, starting out as the baby freshman with bright eyes and a lot to learn, to being the experienced senior with a lot to teach. I even decided to take my athletic career further with a D1 college scholarship.

Here's why I play lacrosse:

1. I play because I love it.

2. I play because I love the adrenaline of being in a one goal game with the other team.

3. I play because I love having 25 sisters.

4. I play because I love being a thousand miles away from home, being independent.

5. I play because I love being out on the field learning how to be better every day.

6. I play because I love to travel.

7. I play because it teaches work ethic.

8. I play because its all I know. Ever since I was 9 years old ive eaten, breathed and slept lacrosse. I know it. I know it well.

9. I play because even when I hate it. Something says keep going.

10. I play because it teaches me lessons. I’ve learned so many life lessons from sticking with my sport for so long.

11. I play because I love that it teaches me respect. I’ve learned how to not only get along with others, but listen to them and respect their ideas.

12. I play because I’ve learned how to be the best on the team and stay humble and I’ve learned how to be the worst and stay hopeful.

13. I play for the discipline. As much as I love my sport, I also love to hate it.

14. I play because I have a love hate relationship for conditioning.

15. I play because it teaches me not to quit when things get hard. I want to quit all the time, but quitting solves nothing. Just like in life.

16. I play because I can. I know that there are a lot of athletes who wish to be in my shoes but for some reason cannot.

17. I play because I am able bodied and I was given the ability to be good at this. I might as well do something with it.

18. I play because it makes my family proud.

19. I play because it’s my sport.