Sometimes it’s hard to find a good group of friends. A group that will never leave your side and that you can always go to for anything and everything. A group of friends that will be your biggest support system, pushing you towards success and raising you up after failure. I’ve been extremely lucky to come across different groups of friends that uphold these values of friendship. They have been, and are, my teammates.
The atmosphere a team can uphold is incredible. They act as a family, together as one. No one is left behind as you work together to achieve a common goal. A team can engulf you in a sense of “self-belonging”. You always feel at home and recognize yourself as a member of something special. Teams truly have the capability of becoming each other’s second families.
Throughout my life, I have been a part of multiple teams. Whether it was my travel soccer team, my high school team, or my college team, each has acted as a family away from my proper genetic one. There’s never been an instance that I haven’t felt like I belonged, and that comes directly from my teammates. Having a team around you, to spend countless hours and days alongside, is not only a great feeling, but also an experience that everyone deserves to have. There is this overwhelming sense of camaraderie that can propel you through any situation you encounter, good or bad.
My past teammates and current teammates have helped get me through the last few years of my life. Facing difficult changes and adjusting to life’s obstacles can be difficult to address alone. The bond you form with your teammates is strong and accompanied by an unconditional love, no matter how weird things might get. You never have to do anything alone. You have a support system of anywhere between 10 to 30 teammates. Here’s the killer. You can count on every single one of them.
So thanks. Thanks to my first recreational soccer league team when I was five. Thanks to my high school team. Thanks to my club soccer team. Thanks to my college team. You’ve been with me through thick and thin. Whether we were pushing each other to finish fitness tests, or listening to someone’s bad day, you are all amazing individuals. I can only hope that someday everyone can thank all their past, present, and future teammates like I am doing now. There’s always room for a second family, I encourage you to go find yours.
