Thank you for saving my life and giving me my childhood dreams of one day playing college sports. Through you both, I had the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself.
To basketball, I wish we had crossed paths a little earlier than at 11-years-old because I would have gotten the chance to enjoy you and love you for just a little longer. From the day we met in the 6th grade, I knew we would be inseparable because you made me feel alive. You made me feel like I finally belonged somewhere. Ever since then, I have run up and down every possible court, have done thousands of shooting drills, 6 a.m. conditioning and pickup games all for you. All because you deserve the very best of me, and I was willing to give you just that. From the moment I started playing in gym class with all the boys because no girls would ever want to, I knew I fell in love with you. An unconditional love like no other.
You have taught me that in order to be great and succeed, I needed to sacrifice certain things. That in order to stand out and be different, I needed to do a little more than everyone else. You taught me that when you love something as much as I loved you, that no sacrifice is ever big enough. You taught me that you get what you put in. So, at the age of 11, I quickly decided that I wanted to stick by your side and give you my all. I wanted to chase you until I no longer could. In my head, I never saw a day without you, I truly never saw the end of the tunnel.
Thank you for all the good and “bad” memories we have created throughout the years. Thank you for all the success, winning seasons, championships and countless individual accolades. But most importantly thank you for all the tough losses I could never swallow, the injuries and the tough days in the gym when I just wanted to walk out on you. All of those times when I felt down and thought there was no way I would get up, you helped me find a way to persevere through the tough days. You simply taught me that quitting would never be an option, so I fought every time I had an encounter with failure. All those “failures” were simply a chance for me to rise above adversity. I learned from those moments that despite it all, those hard days and failures were preparing me for life. It all helped build the person I am today. Someone who just wouldn’t be defined by her ability to play sports or athleticism, but by her work ethic, passion, toughness, competitiveness and character.
To softball, you have always been considered the “back burner” sport because it was always the last season of the year, and I never really had time to work with you and reach my full potential. I was always jumping from basketball to you, so people never expected me to be ready. The truth is, I was always ready to go out there and compete. I always craved the adrenaline and competitiveness you brought into my life. I loved every pressure, every situation, and every challenge you gave me because I believed it was all an opportunity to rise. You were full of those opportunities every single day. I remember the very first time I was introduced to you by my dad and brother. You were the first sport I ever played, and it was special because I got to share a lot of good memories with my brother and dad in the Dominican Republic. Once I heard about you, I wanted to be around you and learn more every day. I remember going to my dad’s softball games and sitting in the dugout with all the players asking questions and throwing the ball around with them in between innings. From that day on, I never stopped playing. I remember my brother and I would take the head off of all the dolls around the house, as well as the caps of empty gallons, and would just play in the backyard all day long. We would pretend to be David Ortiz or some big time MLB player while hitting or making a great defensive play.
My brother has always been my biggest inspiration to play you. He was the person I looked up to be like because he was so good out there. He would make plays nobody else would even get to. Growing up, I wanted to be just like him. I wanted to have the same swing, swag and have as clean of a glove as he did. I truly started falling in love with you because of him. When I used to go to his games, I would watch everything he did. He would wear a sleeve on one arm, some wrist bands on the other and one of his batting gloves would be in the back of his pocket. I tried to remember every little detail so when I had a chance to be on a team, I would do it all just like him. So, I decided to wear #3 for him, because the truth is, he was the reason me and you met.
After my last high school game, I never thought I would suit up and take the field ever again. Although I had committed to play just college basketball, deep down inside, I always knew I would come back to you. I knew I still had more to give to you. So, thank you for giving me the chance to lace up my cleats and wear a jersey across my chest for a few more years after that.
You have taught me how to handle failure because after all, the game of softball is a game of failure. You have taught me that it’s important to be mentally strong and keep your composure during pressure situations. You have taught me to control the controllable and never focus on the things I couldn’t control. You have taught me that life isn’t over after striking out although it feels like it. You have taught me that it takes more than an individual to achieve something great. It takes a group of girls to want it so bad, that they are willing to do anything for it. You have taught me to be comfortable during the most uncomfortable moments of my life.
Although I will never suit up again, I am still hurt by the way we left things. Every college senior dreams of their senior year being their year, the year they finally make it happen. The year you get to close out a very important chapter of your life with your fellow seniors. It’s the year you finally get to walk out with your family on senior night. It’s the year you leave it all out there hoping to bring a championship home. But that wasn’t quite how my senior season went. Through the course of unpredicted events I was forced to say goodbye to you before it was time to do so. I never got the chance to play a home game for my last year. I never had a chance to have my mom at a game. I truly never got to say goodbye on my own terms. There was never any closure between you and me because I was forced to just let you go. And because of that you were by far my hardest goodbye. So, to my fellow seniors thank you for the best time of my life and for the unforgettable memories. I wish we could have gotten the chance to end our careers the way we had always talked about it and imagined. You both deserved more than just an abrupt goodbye to a sport you gave it all to.
To basketball and softball, thank you for all the wonderful teammates I was fortunate enough to now call family. Thank you for giving me some of my best friends for life. Best friends that have been there through it all and have been nothing but supportive throughout this journey. Thank you for all the coaches you both have given me, that have impacted my life beyond measures. They all are the real reason I have made it this far.
If I had a chance to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you, basketball and softball, for making me the woman I am today. There would be no me without you.