Team Love is True Love

Athlete life in college certainly has its perks. We get first pick of classes behind the honors students (to accommodate our practice schedule), the gear we receive is top of the line, and we attract the interest of more fans than ever before. One of the coolest things we gain through collegiate athletics, though, is the people working alongside us. It can be difficult to find people on campus with the same discipline, focus, mindset, and goals. Most Division 1 athletes are crazy high achievers and perfectionists who constantly demand the very best of themselves. Your classes may not be full of people who operate the same way (those kids who come to class but sit on their phones the whole time?), but the rosters are composed of many people who are constantly in attack mode. We go to class ready to focus. We understand the importance of time management and balancing classroom success with athletic success. When that’s stressing us out, we have all of our teammates who can relate 100% and offer their support and sympathy. When we need to de-stress, our teammates are ready to drive us to our favorite place and tell jokes or sing along (out of tune) to the radio and just really make us laugh. If we need to cry after a bad athletic or school performance, they know exactly what to do, and they do it without judging or badgering us. They see us in our crazy moods and on our ugliest days, and yet they are always there to reassure us of how wonderful we are, inside and out. When we think there is no way we can do something, our team is there to build us up and help us conquer whatever barrier lies in our way. It is truly a special bond, and one that cannot be found anywhere else. We compete against each other sometimes, and we may fight, but we all know that every single person on your team would have your back in a split second should you ever need anything. This week, be sure to step back and look at how much your team gives you, and make sure you are giving that much and more back to them. After all, they aren’t just your teammates but your family, and the bonds we form now are lifelong.