When I get asked about why I chose to play hockey and not a different sport, I normally don’t have an answer to give. Usually I’ll say it's because I love it, or that it has always been the most fun but truthfully, hockey has shaped me the most and given me some of the most memorable moments in my life. For me, there has never been a clear cut memory or lesson that has really shaped me, in fact I would say that the athlete I have become has been built up over a series of events and moments that have gotten me to where I am now. Whether that was practicing in the garage for hours on end with my brother and dad, juggling a soccer ball in my backyard or rollerblading up the hill I live on with my mom driving behind me, each time I did any of these things it gave me another memory to look back on when I reflect on how I got to where I am now.
However, being an athlete is not easy, especially being a student-athlete competing at high levels. The stress, the breakdowns, the thoughts and everything negative that flows through your mind on the ice, the pitch and even in the calm of your room are easy ways to become distraught and lose all confidence in yourself. That being said, my advice to all athletes would be to believe in yourself. At the end of the day, your confidence and belief in yourself is what got you to where you are now. Everybody has bad days, practices, shifts you name it but the way you react and bounce back speaks bigger to your character than one missed poke check or pass. Confidence is key and it is definitely not just something people say, it is something that all athletes should learn, especially female athletes. Speaking for myself, growing up playing on boys teams quickly taught me that my self belief was what set me apart. Being the only girl felt lonely at times and I only had myself to rely on, but being able to build up my confidence at a young age helped me thrive on and off the ice and pitch as I started to see trends in volunteering after school and raising my hand more in class became more prominent, showing my confidence had effect on my life outside of sports and in developing a stronger sense of my identity.
So to all those reading this, especially female student-athletes, believe in yourself. Have confidence and trust yourself, because good things come to all those that do, and if you don’t believe that, well, look at me. Thank you for reading and don’t forget, as much as I believe in me, I believe in you too.
