In 2018-19, the Mountain East Conference began its "Dear Sport" initiative where student-athletes in the conference were encouraged to write a letter to their sport. The initiative provides the opportunity for student-athletes to express in their own words the impact that sports has played in shaping them throughout their lives.
Click here to view all letters posted throughout the year.
Below is a letter from Anna Davis, a volleyball player at Urbana University.
Dear Volleyball,
I am writing this letter to you to express my appreciation for everything you have done for me, the opportunities you have provided for me, and the person you have shaped me into becoming.
First and foremost, thank you for choosing me and being the sport that is “my sport.' The sport everyone knew I was meant to play. The sport that makes me the happiest. The sport that I never get bored with. Before you, I tried basketball, softball, and track, and while I loved these sports, none of them made me feel the way you do. None of them seemed right. However, without playing them first, I’m not sure I would have appreciated you as much when I was finally introduced to you. I first played you when I was in 5th grade. My parents arranged for my twin sister and I to participate in a camp for beginners. From that day forward, I pushed and begged to play more and more. The irony of my first experience with you is that I played club volleyball in that same building sophomore through senior year. Now I coach and give lessons there as well. You have also provided me the opportunity to earn money to put toward my degree and the opportunity to encourage others to love this sport through coaching.
Second, thank you for being a constant in my life from 5th grade until now. I feel so lucky to be able to be a collegiate volleyball player each and every day. There are so many individuals who wish they could be, but are unfortunately unable, and so I do not take you for granted. I truly hope I can keep you in my life forever even if I am not playing you anymore. You have provided me lessons and developed qualities in me that I hope to coach and bring out in
younger players. I hope young kids who come to our games look up to me as a role model and I hope to inspire them to be future college athletes too.
You have taught me teamwork, because you can not be played without teammates. That lesson makes me much more patient, cooperative, and hardworking. I learned to work hard to be the best I could be for my own team. You taught me competitiveness, grit, and accountability. I am still learning and working on being a strong leader, and I hope I honor you in the process.
Finally, you have taught me perseverance. When things don’t go my way, when I lose, when I fail, face adversity, or get injured, I am motivated to get back up and improve because of how much I love you. All of these characteristics are used and will be used in other aspects of my life too. You make me a better student. You make me a better daughter, friend, and teammate. You make me a better coach. You make me a better person. And you will make me a better mother and grandmother someday too.
I hope I honor you for the rest of my playing career, in any other coaching I do, and as a spectator of this sport. I will continue to share and express my love for you, and I will motivate younger players to work as hard as I have to show my appreciation to you. I will love you forever, and again, thank you for everything.
Love,
Anna Davis
Urbana University #10