Dear Senior,

So you’ve had this day marked on your calendar since the schedule came out this season. It’s finally your day. There are posters made for you, the gym/field is decorated, they’ve been announcing every morning that week to come support the Seniors in their last home game. You’re pumped about it and you walked around the hallway with your uniform jersey on all day like you own the whole school. You had people giving you high fives and wishing you luck and telling you not to come back to school unless you wipe the floor clean with the opposing team.

It’s here, you’re in the locker room before you hit the field/court and you realize that this is really it. So I am here to tell you to take in every minute. Remember how bad that locker room smells and then remind yourself that it isn’t so bad after all. Look around at all of your teammates doing their pregame rituals: prayers, superstitions, checklists and take something from them. Listen to the music that’s blasting as you change and ingrain that song in your head, because a year from now you’ll wanna be able to turn that song up, close your eyes and go back to this night. Look at yourself in the mirror after your uniform is on and take a few minutes to stare and remember that the name on the front of your jersey gave you this opportunity. Look at the number you wear because in 30 years when you see a kid wearing the number 14 all of the memories are going to come crashing back.

When it’s time to get the game started, don’t walk, sprint on that field/court when your name is announced, and if you’re lucky enough to be escorted by your parents, kiss your mom. When the game clock starts, remember that once you cross the foul line, the out of bounds line, step onto the mat or you dive into the water, it’s about your team again. You put aside how important this night is for you and you do it for them because trust me, they all want to win for you just as much. Breathe in the smell of fresh cut grass and admire your blown up head on stick that all of the senior class has in their hands because they came to support you. Read every sign, hug every parent and lastly live in that moment. Get engrossed in this game. Forget about homework and tests and your phone and be a sponge. Give it your absolute everything through every play, every inning until the last buzzer sounds.

When it’s all said and done, whether you win or you lose you’re going to cry. An underclassman, usually one who you know looks up and admires you will make a speech, and give you a gift and in that moment you will feel an overwhelming sense of love and appreciation for these people that you spent everyday of the last 4 seasons with. Thank them. Thank them for being the reason that you have been so motivated, thank them for giving you the opportunity to lead a team in the sport you eat, sleep and breathe. Whatever you do, DO NOT forget to thank your coach. They believed in you, chances are you’ve become pretty close to them over these years and they are heartbroken to see you go.

Lastly, once the lights turn out, the field has been raked, the scoreboards are wiped clear and the benches are empty, look back fondly on every memory high school sports had to offer to you. Pass what you know about how quickly everything goes by to a junior and tell them not to blink next season.