FunctionalRox

This is me giving my flowers to my coaches.

When I was growing up, my parents were doing everything they could to keep our household running—working long hours, paying bills, raising multiple children, and making sure we were safe and had opportunities they never had. They showed love through sacrifice and stability. But as the youngest child, I often felt like I quietly moved through childhood without much verbal encouragement or motivation. I kept my self-doubt and dreams to myself, not wanting to add to the weight my parents already carried.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that the people who believed in me most weren’t in my home—they were on the sidelines, in the gyms, and on the courts. From grade school to high school to club sports, every coach I had saw something in me long before I saw it in myself. Their words of encouragement mattered more than they probably ever knew. Slowly, their belief began to break through my self-consciousness and self-doubt.

Even then, it took me time to fully believe in myself. I sometimes look back and wonder how much further I could have gone if I had trusted myself sooner. But I’ve learned that we all grow at our own pace. I was a late bloomer—and my coaches never gave up on me during that process. They taught me that if someone tells you no, you either find someone who will say yes or you work so hard that no is no longer an option. If a door closes, you find a window. They taught me persistence, grit, and how to fight through pain and heartbreak. They taught me lessons that extended far beyond sports.

Because of them, I understand that being an athlete isn’t just about talent. It’s about resilience, humility, discipline, and learning how to handle both highs and lows. Those lessons shaped who I am today.

As an adult, I now see how much time, energy, and heart my coaches poured into me—often for very little recognition or pay. That perspective is the reason I chose to become a youth coach myself. I know there are kids who don’t feel seen or supported, and I want to be the person my coaches were to me. I want to believe in kids before they believe in themselves, because sometimes that belief changes everything.

The impact my coaches had on me didn’t stop when my athletic career ended. It carried into how I approach my health, my healing, and my life. They taught me to trust my body, to be patient, and to fight for myself—lessons I now use when advocating for my health and helping others do the same.

So this is my thank you.
Thank you for seeing me when I didn’t see myself.
Thank you for believing in me before I believed in myself.
Thank you for the lessons, the patience, the honesty, and the heart you gave so freely.

I carry your impact with me every day—in how I coach, how I advocate, and how I show up for others. Your influence didn’t just make me a better athlete. It helped shape the person I am today.

Shout out to Donna & Jill, Amy & Jen M, Mr Margarity, Tim & Ken, and Nicole & Jen K