Growing up in a hockey family, my first reaction whenever asked what sport I wanted to play in university was always hockey, naturally. However if you had told 3 year old me that I would be playing rugby instead, I would have stared at you like you were crazy. Midway through my senior year of high school, I was faced with a decision I never thought I would have to make, choosing between two things I have grown to love. Was it hockey, the sport I have grown up around, or rugby, something brand new. It was a scary decision; however, I will forever be grateful for it. Once it clicked that I was really going to university and playing a different sport than what I had grown up playing, a slight panic came over me as my last hockey season memories would really be the last and most of the things I had learnt for the last fourteen years would be all for nothing. But I can tell you, that most lessons in one sport can easily be transferred to another and even life outside of sports.
One of the biggest lessons I have learnt over the last few years especially has been respect, not just for teammates, coaches and opponents but for myself as well. Holding yourself to a level of respect goes beyond just athletics, it’s an important part of life that can open more doors for you than relying on just pure talent. That being said, respect for yourself builds up from your ability to work hard and push yourself. All my life I was never the top player skill wise. I didn't score much, didn't have great hands, and wasn't the strongest; however, I got to where I am today through sport and my work ethic. I grew up playing boys hockey until I came to Shawinigan and it wasn't easy. As we got older I had a lot of people doubt my abilities to play at the same level as boys because I wasn't one of them, instead I proved that I was a key player on my teams through my hard work. I had to try twice as hard as the rest of them to skate as fast, to shoot as hard, and to compete to their level of physicality. It wasn't very easy, especially because of my competitiveness, but I gained respect from my teammates and coaches for my hard work and that led me to gain more respect for myself as well.
For me, it has been quite the ride as an athlete, whether it has been my journey as a thunderbird or stag playing hockey or becoming a mustang and suiting up for my first USport rugby game. But I can say that with the time and effort I have put in, I can proudly look back at what I have accomplished and say that my work ethic is something I have always been able to count on and has never wavered.
