As my high school athletic career has ended, I began to reflect on all the amazing memories, accomplishments, and experiences I had. While I looked at the clock and the last seconds ticked away, I knew I would feel a lasting nostalgia forever tugging at my heart.
I am grateful for every second of it and would love to have played just one more game. But the past cannot be changed, so I feel appreciative for the memories I made. Often, we dread practices or having a bad game, but looking back now, those moments are very small in comparison to the happiness both sports have brought me.
As both a field hockey and basketball player, I enjoyed all of my time on the field and court. The everlasting memories are advancing to the Final Four in both sports (twice in field hockey), winning the Clark Tournament in 2023, and winning the CMASS Tournament in field hockey twice. Every time I look back at a photo or see our Clark Ball that we won, I relive those celebratory emotions.
While winning is always a highlight of the season, losses are what make you stronger and a better person. It is not about the loss, but how you come back from the loss. Sports have taught me to have confidence, keep improving, and not let a mistake affect me entirely. In society, we get caught up in wins and losses, but a good team responds instead of giving up. This lesson of perseverance will stay with me throughout my life.
I look back on my freshman year and think of how much time I thought I had, but the four years flew. I have played basketball since I was four years old, so my career coming to an abrupt stop creates a frozen feeling, almost as if I am lost without a path to keep me steady. The schedule of normality within each day vanished: school, practice, watching film with my dad, sleeping, and waking up for game day was gone.
Whether you do a high school sport, theater, a club, or activity, unfortunately they all will come to an end at some point over the four years. Through all of the connections you make, experiences you have, and achievements, you will find yourself wishing to return to those distant memories.
All the rivals you played, tight games you battled in, and celebrations of wins slowly begin to lose the fresh feeling of the memory. As the years pass, the details escape our minds, but the emotions never do. No one can take away the pride, frustration, sadness, or excitement you felt in that moment–that will be everlasting.
Be grateful for high school sports. As each season comes to an end, work even harder in the offseason to be ten times better than you were. Have no regrets and enjoy every second of your career because after just a couple short seasons, you will be walking in front of the crowd for senior night.
