Sports are something that are commonly participated in and talked about from community to community. It is typical that as a child you try all different sports until something seems to stick. Why do we put so much time into making sure our kids have commitments every night from about five years old until they graduate? I don’t know about you, but I tried many sports.

For a while, I honestly thought that the whole sports thing wasn’t for me. I hated commitment and I didn’t love the people. One day my cousin came over and started talking about how she played hockey and how much she loved it. The next day I decided hockey was the next sport I was going to try. My parents questioned this decision a good amount before they agreed to let me try it out. The first day came and went. Then the second and third and soon a whole week. I loved it.

The word hockey wasn’t spoken in our home ever before I started playing and once I started it became our whole lives. My sister started playing as well and to this day hasn’t stopped. It’s interesting how one decision can affect so many people’s lives. Sports are such a simple concept but hold so much more meaning. They provide a sense of belonging and acceptance to each individual who is dedicated enough to put in the time and hard work.

Many might not agree, but I am still mesmerized by the game of hockey. The amount of talent and dedication that it takes to make it to certain levels of play. The amount of opportunities sports present are enough to make anyone work. Some work their whole lives perfecting a sport because it may be the ticket to a life unimaginable.

If I wouldn’t have played hockey my sister wouldn’t have gotten scouted by D1 schools to play hockey. My dad would have never coached and I would have never played. I honestly don’t know what we talked about at home before hockey existed in our lives.

Sports have the opportunity to make someone’s life better. They can bring joy and sorrow depending on the situation. The feeling you get when you step out on the ice for the championship game of the state hockey tournament. The excitement you feel when your younger brother calls to tell you that he made the varsity golf team for his senior year.

The feeling of pure joy when you find out your sister placed number one in the Midwest for girl’s hockey ages 16 and 17. And the moment your baby sister who has worked her whole life to make it finally gets offered a full ride to play D1 hockey.

Yes, it is just a sport but in reality school is just school and life is just life, but we all know that that’s not the full story. Don’t be afraid to let great things in because they have the opportunity to make your life better.