Each game day comes with a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges, and being a freshman can add to that stress. Before my very first volleyball game as a Saint Leo Lion, I was a nervous wreck. I didn't know what to expect. My mind was racing with what-ifs.

5:30pm comes around, and it's time to head to the locker room to get ready for our first home game of the season. I open the door, head to my locker, and see an envelope with my name on it. Curious, I look around and see every freshman got an envelope. 

Inside the envelope is a letter from one of the seniors, saying: “today is the first of many home games, cherish it because it goes by quicker than you think” followed by other sweet, positive words about how grateful she was to have me on the team, how my hard work hasn't gone unnoticed, and how much of an impact she knows I will make in the future. 

Just a few simple words meant so much, especially from a senior. Now every home game each teammate picks someone and we write them a short letter telling them how much we appreciate them. I love this tradition because it focuses our team on what's important: the people and the reason we play. 

* Originally published on November 12, 2021, by Anna Garrett