1) You will be thankful you face difficult circumstances.
Practice is long, tiresome and difficult. Competing for a position is tough. And then there will be game time, when you are asked to put everything on the line for the sake of your team.
You may sometimes ask, "Is it worth it?"
It is.
It totally is.
One day you will no longer play for your team, and you will instead be in the game of life. Your workdays will be long, tiresome and difficult. Staying on top of your responsibilities will be tough. And then there will be moments when a child or a spouse will ask you to put everything on the line for the benefit of your family.
You'll ask, "Can I do it?".
And then your experience as a Panther will remind you that you can.
You can because you did.
Athletes learn at an early age about getting knocked down, and getting up again. And again. And still again.
The tougher things are, the better you become.
So if you’re ever tempted to say, “To heck with this,” say something else.
Say, “Thanks.”
2) You are creating memories that will last a lifetime.
That game with Fairborn may seem like just another game. But when you least expect it, something will happen. Maybe it will be an outstanding play, or maybe just something funny. Whatever it is, you will talk about it for years to come, whenever you and your teammates get together.
“I heard you call that umpire an idiot. You mumbled it, but I heard it.”
“Man, you couldn’t catch a cold that night.”
“That was the turning point of the whole season.”
And you will laugh and say, “Boy, those were great days.”
3) That tradition you now represent, all started a long time ago. If you look around, you will see former Panthers everywhere, all still there, cheering you on.
Kody Barth, Gary Powers, Wayne Kemper, Steve Harding, Jami Kruitoff, Sheri Malone, my daughter Chloe Kirby, Molly Wray…
That Panther tradition was built on the backs of thousands who came before you. This is a sentiment expressed by Boro football coach Ryan Wilhite all the time. Honor it well.
4) If ever given the chance to go back and do what you are doing right now all over again, you will do it in a heartbeat.
So don’t be taking this for granted.
Enjoy your moment. Former college basketball coach Jim Valvano once said, “You don’t walk into your employer someday and hear an announcer say, ‘There’s Johnny, starting at left desk. Give him a hand.’”
Whether you play soccer or volleyball or golf or football, this is your one and only time to be a Panther. And while it is great to have future ambition about one day going to medical school, don’t let your goals for the future cloud your enjoyment of the present.
Look around, and look your teammates in the eyes.
Look around, and see the people who have come to appreciate your talent.
Listen to the sounds of your craft. Smell the popcorn.
Soak everything in…because one day you will miss it more than you can imagine.
Now go. Have fun. You can thank us later.
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| Cassidy Holtrey (L) and Chloe |