Hey, you.

Remember when you were a little girl and your brothers got you hooked on sports, playing catch with a glove too big for your small hand? When you started out playing baseball and hockey to becoming a three-sport athlete in high school? Good times, right? I know you miss it more than anything, and if you could, you’d still be playing. A year has gone by, and now you’re in college — and focusing more on studying than anything else.

When you were that high school athlete, you had a plan. A plan to continue playing the sport you loved in college. Every time you hit the court or field, there was a rush of adrenaline and you knew you wanted this feeling to last forever. You wanted to be the best out there, and you knew if it wasn’t possible, as long as you thought that and tried your hardest, it would help the team. A positive mindset is No. 1, and you learned how much of an impact it really had on your ability to play. Sometimes you’d have a bad game and wouldn’t want to talk to anyone afterward because you kept reflecting back on what you did wrong with every little thing. Sometimes by doing that it’s easy to forget the things you did that helped the team. Every aspect of the game you loved, and knowing that you had the opportunity to play in college was almost like a dream — you wanted to play badly.

Unfortunately, though, the plan you had in high school to continue playing didn’t work out, and instead you’re focusing more on school work. That’s OK. Everyone you talk to says it’s fine, and it’s good to spend your time studying and getting good grades. Yes, but can’t you just do both? After a semester of focusing on schoolwork and getting comfortable with my life at college, you learned the amount of pressure and stress that would come along with doing both would be too much, and decided not to play in the future. Besides, there’s intramurals, if you did choose to do something athletically.

If you knew all of this would happen I’m sure that every moment you were playing the sports you loved, that every ounce of you would appreciate all the good and all the bad times. So with that said, appreciate every moment you have with your team because soon you’ll realize, that the bond you shared with your teammates is gone, and that nothing will compare to being with your teammates. Working out alone is not as fun as being with them, and making each other laugh about all the stupid things that happened during practice or school. Team is everything, and I know that when you’re together it’s like nothing else matters. You loved each and every one of them and now, all you wish for is to have them by your side.

And the coaches. You know how much they’ve helped you grow as an individual and how much effort they put into helping you become a better player. Yes, some are more helpful than others, but without the good and bad, you probably wouldn’t be where you ended up in your senior year. Never forget the coach who told you that if you keep trying your hardest, you’ll end up in a better spot with the most playing time. You take that advice now in life as someone who doesn’t play sports anymore. Now that you're focused on school knowing that if you try hard, you’ll be more likely to succeed and get that better position or job.

Now that sports have not been in your life like it has in past years, it’s important to use any advice your coaches gave you and apply that to the real world. With that being said, if you do find yourself playing intramurals or on a team again, don’t ever change. Use the knowledge you gained through high school sports, and remember that team is everything. You all work hard to achieve a goal, and with respect and sportsmanship, the road to winning is much easier and more fun. Appreciate every last point, every last play, and every moment you share with your teammates. All of these things you will remember for a lifetime, and you can look back and be the proud of yourself and what you’ve accomplished along this journey.

Keep on swinging.