Dear Coach X,

I'll never forget the day I walked out of that last practice. You told me I wasn't good enough, you told me I couldn't do it, you called me a failure. Holding back tears in my eyes , I picked up my bag and walked away, not looking back. At that moment I finally realized that I deserved to be treated better than that, and it was bittersweet. I was sad to leave a team I had spent so much time with, but good to move on.

There are so many things I wish I could say to you. I could stoop down to your level, I count rant for days about you, but ultimately, all this emotion comes down to 2 words...

Thank you.

I learned so much about myself since you told me those words. You used to be someone I looked up to. I realized that I don't need negative people in my life to be successful. I still keep those words in the back of my mind, and I use them as motivation. Since you, I've started surrounded myself with people who encourage and lift me up. I AM good enough, I CAN be successful. As I sit here and write this after my first summer home from college, I realize how different things are since I walked away.

Without you...

I wouldn't have had the courage to stand up for myself; I wouldn't have learned to stand my ground. I wouldn't have hit rock bottom, only to rise up stronger than I was before, but ultimately, without you, I wouldn't be the athlete I am today. I wouldn't have sat at table in front of my high school and signed my life to a great university.

So, again, thank you. The words that still ring in my head have given me the ability to live out my dream.

Sincerely,

The athlete who proved you wrong.