Sports have been an asset to my journey of personal growth, community involvement, and lasting friendships. Initially my parents encouraged me to play all the sports even though I would push back at times. Looking back I don’t regret a thing they pushed me to do. I realized that their encouragement and push for me to do sports shaped me to who I am today, and most importantly, helped me discover my love and passion for lacrosse.
Lacrosse along with soccer, volleyball, and various random sports I was stuck into as a child, introduced me to a diverse group of individuals. One of my earliest friendships was Mollie Brandstadt; she was on my U10 club soccer team in elementary school. Although we both went to East we attended different elementary schools. She was my first friend I found outside of my small elementary school group. She was one of the first who opened my eyes to true friendships I could find on my own.
As I continued my athletic journey I joined a club lacrosse team with three girls from my middle school team at East. Since about 6th grade I have been a part of five different teams, each team offering a new experience and new people to meet. One standout team mate was Hope Duele. She taught me the perfect balance of seriousness while still having fun on the field. Her presence on and off the field also made a lasting impact on me.
Two years ago I joined the Pure Advantage team where I met Coco, Jordan, Gabi, and Stafford. Being new to this team was different as they had all been playing with each other for years but they made me feel immediately a part of their family. This experience pushed me to connect with people from different areas of Michigan, forcing me to learn how to not only adapt on the field to new people but also adapt to learn new personalities. These friendships from this team continue to fulfill my life as well.
Beyond the friendships, lacrosse has equipped me with many valuable life skills. Team sports across the board create an environment of teamwork, communication, and resilience. They teach individuals how to work together and persevere through challenges. These skills I have learned throughout the various sports have carried into my everyday life.
Reflecting on my journey through athletics I realized participating in club sports helped me develop instrumental social skills and broadened my horizons. These experiences and lessons learned through sports will have a lasting impact on my life. As I have gained confidence and growth as a person, I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey.
Overall sports have been more than just a physical adventure for me but also impacted me overall as a human being. It created lasting friendships I will cherish forever and hold on to for a long time. Being encouraged to participate in these sports has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life.
