When I first arrived at college, I knew absolutely no one. Attending a school a little over a thousand miles away from home left me with no choice but to make new friendships and build connections with new people from all over the country. I will admit that the first week was dreadful, especially as an introvert who gets extremely nervous in new social situations. It wasn’t until Bama Bound when I signed my name on the Alabama Women’s Lacrosse team’s sign-in sheet that I had truly felt like I started to find my footing.

I had played on my school’s team for all four years in high school and was excited for the chance to continue my career into college. I attended tryouts, and the fall season kicked off with a bang. It was extremely nerve-wracking playing with a whole new team, but it was on the field with these people that I knew I found my home away from home. With a few months into my second year on the team, I want to thank my second family for all they’ve given me.

Dear Lax Family,

You are all the sickest bunch of laxers that I have ever met. Your strength, drive, and tenacity inspire me to be and work my best every single day. We challenge each other to improve our skills and go above and beyond what either we or our coaches expect. Our support for one another extends to both situations on and off the field. If someone gets hurt at practice, there are at least five of you asking if that individual is okay. If someone is having trouble with a class, one of you has most likely already taken it and is willing to help that individual through the problem they're having.

While I am not back home with my own family, being on the field with all of you created a close-knit family away from home that I never expected. You’re the people I see the most, four times a week to be precise. We travel to new places to destroy all of the teams we face. They never see us coming. No matter where we are or what we are doing, you all are always there. You’re there for a shoulder to cry on or even for just a good laugh.

The memories that we’ve made on and off the field will always be held near and dear to me. Whether it be memorable practices like our Halloween extravaganza, team bonding events, or team parties, I will always look back on these and remember how much fun we have had together. I’m looking forward to the next two and a half years of memory-making we still have. Thank you for making my college experience one to remember. One where I am a part of the action and not standing on the sidelines. When I first arrived at school, I never expected to meet an amazing bunch of girls like yourselves, and I can without a doubt say that I love each and every one of you and am extremely grateful to have you all in my life.

With much love,

Your teammate