Most people think of sports and think about games where you have to score more than the other team in order to win. They think about running and getting sweaty. While all of that is true, winning is just a small part of why us athletes do what we do.

It's the friendships, the game day rituals, and, most importantly, it's a part of who you are. Those 6 a.m. practices where you snooze your alarm five times and really don't want to get out of bed but you always do. You know you don't have to get up and go, but something deep down always tells you to push through that feeling and get up. Only athletes understand how much you can hate a sport but love it at the same time. This is because it is a part of you, it is who you are. You wouldn't know how to carry on without it in your life and it gives you a sense of sanity and structure. Your life could be a complete mess but when you step onto that court or field for those few hours, everything goes away and you can just focus on doing what you love.

No one can break a bond between your best friend on your sports team. That is the person who truly knows who you are. Those games and practices don't last forever, but the friendships do. You do everything with that person and they are the ones who keep you going when you sometimes feel like you can't do it anymore.

You'll never forget your pre-game handshakes, locker room dances, or team dinners. There's so much more to a sport than trying to score and win. Even though that's extremely important, it isn't the only reason us athletes do what we do. We are made this way for a reason and our passion for our game is something no one can truly understand. Always go out and give it your all, because one day you won't be able to. One day you won't be able to score a point that means something. Being an athlete isn't easy, because if it was easy, everyone would do it.