I'm a firm believer that in every bad situation, a positive can be found. I've been an athlete my whole life, and I've been lucky enough to be coached by a few great coaches. Unfortunately, the bad coaching and worse coaches far outnumber the good. I've learned a lot from the bad coaching, though and I'd like to thank them for it.

Coach,

Thank you. Thank you for making me earn my spot, while many others didn't put in effort or work and were given their spot, seeming gift-wrapped in your praises. I was an outsider, so you made me work for everything I ever wanted. You didn't hand me playing time or leadership roles or special privileges. You made me earn them. Then, I had to watch you hand those things to players who didn't work for them. You made me re-do the drill and you made me run the extra sprint. You expected a lot out of me, you weren't lenient and you treated me unjustly, but you prepared me for the injustices of life.

I spent many years of my life fully devoted to your team, my team. I practiced nearly 15 hours a week, nine months out of the year for you and your team, my team. I spent dozens of nights crying over things you had said. I spent hours questioning my love of the game because you made me hate it. I spent days dreading the thought of practice because I knew I wouldn't be treated fairly. I gave you everything I had, while my family put their lives on hold to support your team, my team. I gave you four years of earning my spot and you gave me a lifetime of knowledge.

Because of you, Coach, I learned to never give up on something I love. To never let someone else decide for me what I love to do. I learned to appreciate those few good coaches I was blessed to learn from. I learned to not worry about what privileges others have been handed. I learned that I'm mentally stronger than I ever believed. I learned that I will deal with unfairness for the rest of my life and more importantly, I learned there's not a whole lot I can do about it. I realized how hard it can be to be an outsider, and I learned how others should not be treated.

By far, the most important thing you taught me was how to not be a coach. How not to coach others in life. How not to coach my children's little league teams one day. How not to motivate my team. You made me find the positives in a world of negatives. Your idea of good coaching did not make my life easy, but the lessons I learned made all the hours of worrying worth it. Thank you for opening my eyes to the realness of the world, and not protecting me from reality. Thank you for not rewarding me when I deserved it. So thank you, Coach. Thank you for making me earn it.