When I first heard about a local duckpin bowling league starting near me last year, I joined with my little brother as a way to get him active and out of the house. Before all of this, we were not avid bowlers. We sometimes didn't even go once to the bowling alley in the span of a year. Then out of the blue, my mom saw that they were starting up a league in the fall and I thought to myself, "Why not?".

Fast forward and it's the first day of the league and we don't know anyone. My brother and I kept to ourselves and just bowled our three games for fun. Just bowling three games a week every Saturday morning wasn't going to be too bad. The next week was when we needed to pick our teams and we looked like deer in headlights. Two boys about the same age as my brother asked if we wanted to be on a team together and since we didn't know anyone else, we said sure! They knew that we were newbies because we were untrained and terribly inconsistent. But all season long, win or lose, they never failed to be kind to us or throw in a nice word when we did well. Parents and coaches would give us tips off the lanes and help us to get better. They never once blew up and told us that we were awful, even though we were when the league first started. All they did was try to help. Slowly, we got better and started winning. At the end of the league, our team had finished in first place.

But bowling isn't all about how many games you win. It's about the community involved with it. There are so many kids and parents who are there simply for their love of bowling. This is the sport that anyone can do. No two people bowl exactly the same. It's not a talent or skill that you have to be born with. It's something that can be improved upon time and time again, every time you step on to the lanes. Even the pros have their off days or the days where they can't seem to throw the ball down the middle. But, it's okay because you have an entire team to support you. There will always be people who want to see you succeed. As with everything though, the key is to remain gracious in defeat and humble in victory.

Being a part of this sport for the last year has brought me some of my happiest memories. Through this I have bonded with my parents, we now go and practice every Wednesday together. Every week during the course of the league they come and support me and my brother both as we bowl. Bowling has brought me new friends and launched me into a circle of people that I am so glad that I met. Being a bowler brought me and my boyfriend together. One of our favorite dates is to go and spend an hour or two competing against each other.

This sport and these people have forever changed my life and I could not be more thankful.

Thank you to my two teammates, Brandon and Kyle, I would've been lost without you.

Thank you to Parkville Lanes, my second home.

Parkville Lanes - 7607 Harford Road Parkville, MD 21234