Let’s delve into the nostalgia that is the 2000’s. Who could forget the spikey-haired quintet NSYNC? Even as a five-year-old, I jammed out to Justin Timberlake. I also remember the purple and green-colored ketchup, my Bop-It that kept my unbeatable 96-point high score, and my Conair Quick Twist that would always turn my hair into knots instead of braids.

One of my personal favorites of the last decade is the ultimate girl power movie: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. This movie is based off the book by Ann Brashares and features four very different teenage girls who come across a pair of pants that fits each of them—every size and every shape. So, in light of these amazing pants, the girls decide to mail them to each other throughout their summer break, writing about their experiences while wearing the pants. This movie was film gold.

Bridget is the sporty friend of the group. She goes off to Mexico for the summer for a soccer camp where a cute boy, who happens to be one of the coaches for the camp, catches her eye. She shows off her soccer skills in front of everyone, especially the coach, to be the best soccer player she can be perceived to be.

I identify with Bridget (aside from being flirty and a show-off). Of my friends, I find myself to be the one who loves watching sports, playing sports, and talking about sports—especially soccer. I played soccer for eleven years before college and I play on my sorority’s intramural soccer teams. The truth is: I love the feeling of accomplishment and success. I love when my teammates high-five me for a job well done. To me, it’s the equivalent to acing a test.

I have also grown to hate dressing up in “real” clothing. My everyday outfit is as follows: a T-shirt, usually a comfort-colored one, black Nike shorts because you never know when you might be asked to play in a pick-up game of soccer, tennis shoes or Chacos, depending on the day, with my hair tied in a ponytail and not even an ounce of make-up. Ta-da—I am a walking Dick’s Sporting Goods store.

It may be a little embarrassing that I have made friends with the early-risers at the gym, too. Almost every day I wake up at 7:30 (that’s early to me) and scurry to the gym. I guess this makes me a gym rat-- who knew? Going to the gym gives me time to relax and release stress, but it also gives me time to perfect the “gun show,” if you know what I mean-- *bicep flex*.

I don’t mind being a sporty girl because it makes me who I am. I believe there is a reason authors create stories with friends that are very different from each other: the authors want to appeal to all types of readers. And it’s true, all people are different—we have certain qualities that fall under being sporty, girly, or artistic for example. But, we are more than fitting a category, too. I fit the sporty persona, but I also love to go to the theatre and watch plays. I love to cook. I love to be social (sometimes). I just love being me.

So, thank you, Ann Brashares, for helping me find out who I am. You rock. And to everyone else: if the pants fit, wear them.