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In Her Words HOW TRACK & FIELD CHANGED MY LIFE

Thank you for teaching me endless life lessons and for opening the door to incredible opportunities. You have taught me the importance of dedication to my team, the sport, and myself. As a sport that relies so heavily on numbers, it was clear early on that I’d get out what I put in. You are an unforgiving sport, and if I didn’t work hard every day, it would show. If I didn’t take nutrition, recovery, and strength training seriously, it would show. If I didn’t love what I did every day, it would show. You helped me understand how to commit to giving 100% to everything I do.

Thank you for bringing the most wonderful people into my life. Never before have I experienced a sport where people root for your success not matter what jersey you are wearing. The Track and Field community is one of the most supportive and welcoming communities I have ever been a part of. I have made countless connections with athletes on many teams across the country, and this has given me a chance to appreciate the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in the lives of my competitors. Similarly, thanks to you, my teammates have become my best friends. I have this sport to thank for bringing me my favorite people, people that I count on every day. Without them my world would be completely different, so thank you for bringing me so much happiness through them.

Thank you for being an outlet; for providing me with an opportunity to have fun and get moving every day, an opportunity to spend time with my friends and some outstanding coaches, and an opportunity to see my dad every week. You allowed me to spend time with my family nearly every weekend of the school year and see them more often than a typical college experience would allow. You gave me something exciting to talk about at holidays and family gatherings, and consistently gave my family a reason to smile.

Thank you for putting time into perspective for me, for letting me know just how long a minute can be, but at the same time how fast eight years of competing can fly by. I have such an appreciation for the timeless memories I have made over the eight short years I have been involved in this sport, and I look forward to a lifetime of being involved with the community you have built. You have given me something to be passionate about and to share with my family and friends.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to travel to countless cities to compete and experience different cultures. You allowed me to experience places I never would have on my own. You have also given me the opportunity to share my love for running, strength training, and engineering with those hoping to follow in my footsteps. You put me in a position to encourage those around me to chase their dreams and never doubt their abilities. It has been an honor representing my team and school in all aspects of my collegiate career.

Thank you, Track and Field, for making me into the person that I am today. You have developed my confidence beyond what I could imagine and connected me to the most well-rounded community of amazing and talented people. Thank you for being there to fuel my fire and give me a reason to compete. I thoroughly appreciate all of the memories, lessons, and opportunities.

Created By
NCAA
Appreciate